Ericsson expands R&D investment in Taiwan

Taipei, Dec. 23, 2003 (CENS)--Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson will upgrade a testing laboratory in Taiwan into a design innovation center and spend over NT$100 million (US$2.9 million at US$1:NT$34) on broadband mobile connections in Taiwan, Ericsson Taiwan's chairman, S.K. Yang, said yesterday.

Yang noted that the testing laboratory has been a facility for testing mobile phones and new on-line services. Once becoming an innovation center, the facility will be equipped with development capability, allowing it to locate potential applications. The facility will target mobile gaming, next-generation mobile multimedia as well as mobile video and audio applications.

To enhance its development capability, Yang said Ericsson will spend at least NT$100 million on equipment and expects the center to present its development fruits in two years. Ericsson has acquired approval from Taiwan government to expand the testing laboratory.

Yang pointed out that many world leading telecom-application developers have announced plans to open R&D centers in Taiwan, showing that Taiwan is gaining floor in the world mobile-telecom sector. He said they need the facilities to test Chinese-text services in Taiwan before commercializing them in mainland China.

Nokia Corp. has pledged to open a development center in Taiwan next quarter and Alcatel SA said it will establish a similar facility on the island some time soon. The Alcatel's facility is aimed at offering a platform for testing mobile phones and mobile services. Nokia will use the Taiwan center to mostly test killer application of 3G service.