8 August 2008
China-based Shanghai Huaqin Telecom Technology recently signed a CDMA 2000 subscriber unit license agreement with Qualcomm, making the 2G handset maker the latest company to jump on the CDMA 2000 handset bandwagon.
The license deal came after a number of China-based handset makers, including BYD Electronics, TechFaith Wireless and Teleepoch, also signed a similar license agreement with Qualcomm within less than a year.
The recent reorganization of telecom companies in China and the potential for 3G business helped push China handset makers to venture into the development of 3G CDMA 2000 products, according to sources from Taiwan's handset market.
China Telecom, which is currently consolidating the CDMA networks and equipment previously owned by China Unicom, has projected the number of CDMA subscribers in China is to double to 100 million units within three years, the sources pointed out.
The market potential for CDMA handsets in China has encouraged more handset makers to join the club, indicated the sources.
In addition to the domestic market, China handset makers also aim to push sales of CDMA handsets in emerging markets, including the Middle East, Africa and India, the sources added.
