Sharp in Agreement to Supply Mobile Phones to China
Sharp Corporation has signed an agreement with Datang Telecom Technology Co., Ltd., a major Chinese manufacturer of communications equipment, to supply camera-equipped GSM mobile phones to the Chinese market. Sharp has been manufacturing and selling audio-visual products, home appliances, office equipment and electronic components in China, but this is the company’s first entry into the Chinese mobile phone market.
The phone will be a Chinese version of the GSM mobile phones that Sharp has developed for other Asian countries and Europe. It will be compatible with the value-added Monternet service provided by China Mobile Communications Corporation, the largest mobile phone service operator in China. Under the agreement, starting in April 2003 Sharp will provide 100,000 units to Datang, which will distribute them through its nationwide sales network. Sharp aims to strengthen its partnership with Datang, a company with strong links to the Chinese government, and fully expand its business in the Chinese market.
Datang Telecom Technology Co., Ltd., headquartered in Beijing, is a large telecommunication infrastructure systems group separated from the China Academy of Telecommunications Technology and formed in 1998. With 3,000 employees, it had net sales of 2.1 billion RMB (approximately 30 billion yen) in fiscal 2001. In addition to its main products of telephone switchboards and fiber-optic communications equipment, Datang aims to expand its share of the market for GSM mobile phones through cooperation with Sharp. Datang is also a key promoter of TD-SCDMA, a 3G mobile phone standard specific to China. Many speculate that this will likely lead to the coexistence of three systems-TD-SCDMA, W-CDMA, and cdma2000-in China.
Monternet, provided by China Mobile Communications Corporation, is a mobile phone data communications service that uses a GPRS network to allow users to send digital photographs and to download things like background screens and ring tones.
About Sharp Corporation
Sharp Corporation (TSE: 6753) was established in 1912 and is engaged in the manufacture and sale of electrical communications equipment, electric equipment and electronics-applied equipment, including televisions, video cameras, CD stereos, MD players, fridges, faxes, and mobile phones. Its other divisions cover electronics (TV, video, camcorder, CD stereo, MD player, fridges, fax, mobile phones) and electronics components (opto devices, CD-ROM devices, photo voltaic devices). Electronics accouted for 67% of fiscal 2000 revenues; Electronic components, 33%.For further information, please visit the Sharp Corporation home page at: www.sharp.co.jp
ContactSharp CorporationArisa Morimori.arisa@sharp.co.jp03-3260-1870 Apr. 23, 2003, 18:48 (JST)
Source: Sharp Corporation
Sharp Corporation (TSE: 6753) (OTC: SHCAY)
www.sharp.co.jp
From the Japan Corporate News Network
www.japancorp.net
Topic: Joint Venture
Sectors: Wireless, Communications General