Asustek to Launch Smartphones in China by End of This Year

Actively contacting Chinese telecom companies for cooperation, Asustek Computer Inc, a globally leading supplier of notebook PCs under own-brand Asus, is planning to launch Garmin-Asus smartphones in China by the end of this year, according to the Chairman Johnny Shih.

Shih is going to meet China Mobile Ltd`s president Wang Jianzhou, who will make a personal visit in Taiwan on August 24 to procure Taiwan-made communication and electronic products, with Asus`s netbook PCs, smartphones and network cards also to be on his procurement list. To further expand its distribution channels in China, Assutek has also been in talk with China Unicom Ltd, one of China`s big three telecom companies, for formation of an alliance.

Since teaming up with the world`s largest GPS (global positioning system) device brand Garmin in February this year, Asustek has actively ventured into the global market for smartphones with Garmin-asus GPS phones, most of which are supplied by Asustek`s production arm Pegatron Corp at present.

Shih indicated that built-in GPS functions developed by the leading GPS brand have helped to effectively differentiate Garmin-asus smartphones from competing models. So far, the dual-brand smartphones have been hot-selling in Taiwan and Hong Kong and will be also available in the US, East Europe, Russia, India, Southeast Asia and China by the end of this year.

Besides, to further drive up its sales of smartphones in Taiwan, Asustek has launched its newest model Hami jointly with the island`s largest telecom service provider, Chunghwa Telecom Co, who is planning to procure a total of 50,000 smartphones from different brands for sale in the second half of this year. With its smartphones increasingly available in more markets, Asustek stays quite confident of attaining shipment of 1 million units for next year at the moment.

Source: CENS