Acer works on boosting handset sales

Dec 11, 2009 19:21 GMT  ·  By

Computer makers Acer and Asustek are reportedly working closely with China-based 3G carriers for the launch of 3G capable smartphones in the country in 2010. The two companies are said to have partnered with China Mobile and China Unicom, and it seems that Acer will initially work on the promotion of TD-SCDMA and WCDMA models with the two carriers.

According to a recent article on DigiTimes, Acer also intends to outsource the manufacturing of its TD-SCDMA-capable mobile phones to Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), or at least this is what industry sources suggested. As for Asustek, the company is expected to deliver the Garmin-Asus dual-brand smartphones to the Chinese market in the near future, while also planning the release of customized 3G handsets with the two carriers in the country during the next year.

In related news, we learn that Scott Lin, president of Acer Taiwan, stated recently that the company was working on boosting the sales of its mobile phones, and that it had started the integration of its marketing and sales channels for notebooks and smartphones in this direction. At the same time, the company also launched its first Android-based mobile phone on the Taiwan market, the Acer Liquid A1.

The new device was delivered to the Taiwanese market in cooperation with Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET), Lin noted. It seems that the company expects for the smartphone market in the country to rise to over one million units next year, up from the 610,000 units expected to be sold during 2009. At the same time, Acer expects to be able move a number of around two million smartphones all around the world during the next year. In 2009, the company is forecast to be able to sell 400,000-500,000 smartphones, Lin stated. Next year's sales should also see a boost from a larger number of smartphones the company is set to launch on the market.