ZTE, one of China’s largest network and phone suppliers, is making a bigger push in the tablet PC market by releasing five to six new devices next year.
The company revealed its tablet strategy when Wang Yong, the deputy general manager for mobile broadband products for the company, made comments to the Chinese press on Monday. A ZTE spokeswoman later confirmed his statements.
ZTE unveiled its newest tablet device called the ZTE Light during a technology exhibition in Beijing last week. The device, which features a 7-inch touchscreen and can make phone calls, is already planned to be sold with carriers in Europe. The company is also aiming to sell the device in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.
As for China’s domestic market, ZTE plans to start selling a tablet at the end of the year or in January 2011. The company is also working on a tablet device that can operate with the TD-SCDMA 3G standard used by China Mobile, the country’s largest mobile provider.
ZTE’s newest tablet was estimated by a company rep to be priced at around 3,000 yuan ($US449), but the final price will be determined by the device’s carriers.
The company’s Chinese rival Huawei has also launched its own tablet device. Called the S7, the tablet also features a 7-inch touchscreen and can also make phone calls. The S7 is already available in overseas markets in the United Kingdom, Australia and in the United States.