DBTEL to open mobile phone design centers in Europe

Taipei, March 19, 2003 (CENS)--DBTEL Inc. will roll out own-brand cell phones and will set up several mobile phone design centers in Europe this year, hoping to expand its market share in the region.

The company expects to introduce dozens of handset models this year to challenge Nokia of Finland and Samsung of South Korea.

DBTEL is the third-largest cordless phone supplier in Europe, behind Siemens and Philips. It sells around 14 million cordless phones annually and sells such products to the largest telecom carriers in Britain, France and Germany.

The new mobile phones will be designed in Taiwan and made in mainland China, said K.M. Hsien, CEO of DBTEL Europe. He added that the phones would be designed to meet European tastes and be distributed under the DBTEL brand.

DBTEL plans to set up five design centers including regional centers for northern and southern Europe, as well as centers in Britain, Germany and France to design products for different regional markets in Europe.

Other mobile phone producers in Taiwan, such as BenQ and Mitac International, have entered the European market by supplying handsets to European telecom service providers on a contract basis.

DBTEL reportedly turned down big-ticket orders from two British mobile phone service providers seeking supplies of mobile phones an the original design manufacturing basis since it plans to sell its own-brand products in Europe.

Hsien noted that the time is right for mobile phone producers in Asia to sell own-brand handsets in Europe, noting that Samsung entered the market just one and a half years ago.

Hsien said his company is a leading producer of foldable mobile phones, which are growing in popularity around the world.