Qiao Xing Mobile Hires 200 Engineers to Develop New 3G Phones

In order to bring new wireless multimedia services to consumers, such as mobile gaming and mobile video, carriers, software vendors and equipment makers worldwide are working feverishly to develop and build advanced 4G networks -- including LTE and WiMAX (News - Alert) networks.

But just because the first of the major carriers will be launching these new networks within the next few years doesn’t mean those companies working in the 3G realm are going to stop innovating new products and services any time soon.

Case in point: Qiao Xing Mobile Communication, which manufactures mobile handsets through its subsidiary CEC Telecom, plans to add 200 engineers to its existing R&D team in Beijing in 2009 in order to develop new handsets capable of supporting 3G services.

 

According to the company, the new personnel will help research, design, develop and commercialize new 3G-compatible handsets, with a focus on TD-SCDMA and WCDMA products.

In a press release, Wu Zhiyang, chairman of Qiao Xing Mobile, said CEC Telecom is set to launch several exciting new 3G models in 2009.

“Currently, the VEVA T3 is in operational test with China Mobile (News - Alert), the largest operator in China,” he said in the release. “And our VEVA F1 has already passed a qualification test and been selected into the first WCDMA model list of China Unicom (News - Alert), another Chinese operator.”

Zhiyang said the current global financial crisis has presented new opportunities for the company to recruit top R&D talents.

“With four company-owned and operated specialty retail stores in Beijing and many more to come, and our 3G phone bundling agreements with Chinese operators, we are well-positioned to lead our industry with the most innovative mobile handset products and seize this historic opportunity brought by 3G,” Zhiyang said.

Earlier today China Mobile announced the launch of 29 new models of G3 netbooks. The company reports that it worked with 17 different PC makers, both overseas and domestic, to develop these 3G-ready computers.

Lu Xiangdong, vice president of China Mobile, said the company will continue to push the development of the TD-SCDMA industry by joining hands with PC manufacturers.

China Mobile’s development of affordable netbooks to operate on its 3G network is a smart move because consumers today are looking for advanced mobile services and devices without the high price tag (News - Alert). What’s more, a recent report from ABI Research shows that sales of netbooks are increasing, despite the down economy. As such, mobile operators will continue to try to get the most our of their networks by delivering compelling new services and, equally as important, innovative new mobile devices.