Motorola steps up cooperation with China-based handset makers, say sources

Motorola has stepped up its cooperation with China-based handset makers, instead of Taiwan makers, for the production of entry-level and mid-range handsets using chipset solutions mostly from Taiwan-based MediaTek and China-based Spreadtrum Communications, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Motorola's planned launch of the entry-level WX-series handsets before the end of this year will be built on MediaTek platforms by China-based TCL, while the forthcoming E11 touchscreen, multimedia handset will be built on Spreadtrum's GSM/GPRS chipset solutions, the sources indicated.

Motorola is likely to further push forward its present outsourcing policy if sales of the WX-series handsets made by TCL and the E11 handset prove successful, the sources asserted.

The shift of policy will force Motorola's production partners in Taiwan, including Compal Communications, Chi Mei Communication Systems (CMCS) and Qisda to woo 3G and smartphone orders from the US-based vendors, the sources commented.

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