Legend develops 3G phones
25/2/2004 15:18
Legend Group, China's leading hi-tech conglomeration, announced yesterday
in Beijing that it will officially start development of third-generation mobile
phones, today's Beijing Times reported.
It will cooperate with Datang Telecom
Technology and Industry Group, developer of China-patent 3G telecom standard
TD-SCDMA in the phone development, the company said.
TD-SCDMA (Time Division
- Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA 2000 (Code Division Multiple
Access 2000) and WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) are the key 3G
standards now widely accepted in the world.
According to Guan Wei, senior
official with Legend's mobile phone division, the company is developing the
TD-SCDMA based phones at its Beijing development and research center and
WCDMA-based phones at the Shanghai R&D center.
"Within three months of
the Ministry of Industry issuing 3G licenses, no matter whether it's for
TD-SCDMA or WCDMA, Legend will provide phone models for commercial use for
either standards," Guan said confidently.
Sample TD-SCDMA phones have
completed testing, while, according to him, sample WCDMA phones will be unveiled
next year.
Industry analysts are not as optimistic as Legend about its entry
into the 3G market, however, predicting it will see stiffer competition ahead as
the high-end phone product has become a new focus for the phone
industry.
Prior to Legend's unveiling of a 3G phone plan, another key
domestic phone maker, Konka Group, announced its ambitious 3G project last
weekend.
Taking the lead of domestic phone makers releasing their timetable
for the high-end cell phone, Konka said its 3G phone will hit the market in
mid-2005.
Under the plan, Konka will track all the three kinds of 3G
technology standards and narrow its focus on camera-inset products this year.
Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news
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