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China Unicom targets low-end 3G users
By Zhu Shenshen |
July 18, 2011, Monday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
CHINA Unicom, the sole partner of Apple on iPhone in the domestic market, aims to kick off more entry-level 3G phones to woo low-end users and boost 3G business, the country's No. 2 mobile operator said yesterday.
Handset vendors have shown and kicked off new models with China Unicom's WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) network, such as a smart phone with Alibaba's cloud computing services and Motorola's 1,000-yuan-level smart phone during a WCDMA forum and exhibition held by China Unicom.
The carrier will also launch two new 3G models with its own brand Wo and a self-developed operating system for mobile phones and tablet computers today.
"China Unicom now operates the world's biggest WCDMA network and richer variety of WCDMA models will help us boost our user base and revenue," Chang Xiaobing, China Unicom's chairman, said during the forum.
By the end of June, China Unicom had totally 23.9 million 3G users, adding 1.85 million in the month, higher than the previous month's increased 3G user number of 1.74 million, the Shanghai-listed firm carrier said in a recent statement.
China Unicom will launch more phones with Android system cost about or less than 1,000 yuan (US$153), which is expected to woo more users in China, the world's biggest mobile phone market, said Lu Yimin, China Unicom's general manager.
At present, China Unicom and Apple promotes iPhone to target high-end users. But the carrier was often complained to pay too much attention on iPhone user group but neglect other users with a huger base. It's a natural response for China Unicom to expand product variety to cover wider user groups, industry insiders said.
"The low 3G penetration rate in China represents huge potential growth of 3G of the country, especially in WCDMA sector," said Zhao Xinyu, general manager of GFK China, a German-based research firm.
China's 3G user base is about 70 million now and it's expected to hit 100 million by the end of this year. Its penetration rate is less than 10 percent now compared with more than 20 percent globally.
Motorola Mobility launched an Android phone XT316 cost about 1,000 yuan for China Unicom's WCDMA network.
"We have expanded our product line by a new category targeting young people, which is more affordable to most people. The phones in the category will cost just about 1,000 yuan," said Meng Pu, Motorola China's president.
K-Touch, a home-grown brand, display its latest model with Alibaba's cloud services. The WCDMA phone, with free online space and Alibaba's cloud computing, will be available next month.
In the entry-level market, phones cost about 1,000 yuan sell best, such as ZTE's Blade 880 and Huawei's U8800. For example, ZTE Blade 880 sells 5,000 to 10,000 models each day, according to the handset vendors.
Handset vendors have shown and kicked off new models with China Unicom's WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) network, such as a smart phone with Alibaba's cloud computing services and Motorola's 1,000-yuan-level smart phone during a WCDMA forum and exhibition held by China Unicom.
The carrier will also launch two new 3G models with its own brand Wo and a self-developed operating system for mobile phones and tablet computers today.
"China Unicom now operates the world's biggest WCDMA network and richer variety of WCDMA models will help us boost our user base and revenue," Chang Xiaobing, China Unicom's chairman, said during the forum.
By the end of June, China Unicom had totally 23.9 million 3G users, adding 1.85 million in the month, higher than the previous month's increased 3G user number of 1.74 million, the Shanghai-listed firm carrier said in a recent statement.
China Unicom will launch more phones with Android system cost about or less than 1,000 yuan (US$153), which is expected to woo more users in China, the world's biggest mobile phone market, said Lu Yimin, China Unicom's general manager.
At present, China Unicom and Apple promotes iPhone to target high-end users. But the carrier was often complained to pay too much attention on iPhone user group but neglect other users with a huger base. It's a natural response for China Unicom to expand product variety to cover wider user groups, industry insiders said.
"The low 3G penetration rate in China represents huge potential growth of 3G of the country, especially in WCDMA sector," said Zhao Xinyu, general manager of GFK China, a German-based research firm.
China's 3G user base is about 70 million now and it's expected to hit 100 million by the end of this year. Its penetration rate is less than 10 percent now compared with more than 20 percent globally.
Motorola Mobility launched an Android phone XT316 cost about 1,000 yuan for China Unicom's WCDMA network.
"We have expanded our product line by a new category targeting young people, which is more affordable to most people. The phones in the category will cost just about 1,000 yuan," said Meng Pu, Motorola China's president.
K-Touch, a home-grown brand, display its latest model with Alibaba's cloud services. The WCDMA phone, with free online space and Alibaba's cloud computing, will be available next month.
In the entry-level market, phones cost about 1,000 yuan sell best, such as ZTE's Blade 880 and Huawei's U8800. For example, ZTE Blade 880 sells 5,000 to 10,000 models each day, according to the handset vendors.
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