Monday, August 10- Chinese gadget company Alcatel has announced that it will be offering a smaller version of its OneTouch Idol 3 smartphone for the United States and Canada. The new model will be sold directly to customers residing in North America. This is a move that reflects the sales strategies of other Chinese startups in the mobile market. The company's website will be the main source of the new device.

According to a report from website CNet, Alcatel's smaller version of the OneTouch Idol 3 will begin its sales on August 14. The gadget will sell alongside the original version, which measures 5.5 inches. The smaller variation measures 4.7 inches. Alcatel, like other Chinese startups in the smartphone arena, is known to offer phones which are technologically advanced and affordable at the same time. The new phone retails at $180.

The OneTouch Idol 3 is powered by Android 5.0.2, the latest version of the operating system. The device also features a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 720p HD display. The phone is also equipped with a 5- megapixel  front sensor. It has 1.5GB RAM and 16GB storage. The 5.5-inch version is said to be a good buy considering the price and the features. The smaller version hopefully gets equally good feedback regarding its performance.

Unlike other startups like OnePlus, Oppo and Asus, Alcatel does not have an established backing and client base in the international scene. Locally, the company already has tight competition in homegrown startups such as Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Oppo. Xiaomi is reportedly the top-selling brand in China and is on its way to establishing a name for itself internationally with its increasing popularity.

Alcatel can count on its product's quality and its own marketing strategy to nab serious sales amidst competition in both domestic and international smartphone markets. Recently, Chinese startup Oppo has secured its entry to Australia by signing in telecom firm Optus to sell its mobile units. OnePlus has also announced that it will sell a mini smartphone which is slated for a December release.