ZTE and Telefónica Sign Agreement for 3G Mobiles

Mobile operator Telefónica España and leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions ZTE have reached an agreement through which they are to jointly manufacture and distribute 3G mobile phones for the Spanish market.
The new mobile phones will be launched by Movistar during this year and will come with the latest technology as well as an attractive price tag. Many manufacturers are aiming to develop cheaper 3G mobile phones and make the 3G experience more affordable for customers worldwide. Telefónica and ZTE will work together on the development projects, while an independent team will be formed to develop ZTE products in Spain.

Initially, the result of the agreement between the two companies will be a 3G mobile phone, dubbed F230, manufactured by ZTE and heading on to Movistar, mobile operator which has recorded over 21 million clients in the third quarter of last year and a wide range of services and applications that are using the latest technologies including UMTS and HSDPA.

Shiyou He, Senior Vice President of ZTE, said: "From a geographical and economic point of view, Spain is a key market for ZTE. Therefore, an agreement with the leader in that market - Telefónica - is an ideal opportunity to show our technological expertise in the development of new 3G handsets."

Luis Ezcurra, General Manager of Business at Telefónica Móviles España, said: "The agreement with ZTE, one of the most significant telecommunications manufacturers in the world, will enable our customers to access the new services provided by 3G technology."

ZTE is responsible for delivering innovative, custom-made products and services in over 100 countries and has also signed an agreement with Kodiak Networks, under which ZTE UMTS handsets will feature Kodiak's mobile applications.