13th Feb 2007 07:02
Vodafone Group Plc13 February 2007 13 February 2007 VODAFONE SIGNS HANDSET PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHINA'S ZTE Vodafone Group and ZTE Corporation announced today a handset procurementagreement which will see the Chinese company produce a range of Vodafone-onlybranded, ultra-low cost handsets for sale across Vodafone's Markets. The handsets will only carry the Vodafone name, adding to the range of deviceswhich Vodafone offers branded in this way for the consumer market, and marks thecontinuation of Vodafone's Original Design Manufacturer strategy, which isintended to bring to market high-quality and low-cost devices under the Vodafonename. Vodafone anticipates offering the first Vodafone-branded, ZTE-manufacturedhandset, a 2G ultra-low cost device, created particularly for sale in EmergingMarkets, in the second quarter of 2007. Jens Schulte-Bockum, Vodafone's Global Director of Terminals said: "Vodafone'sOriginal Design Manufacturer strategy is intended to use Vodafone's size andpurchasing power to engage with the best white label handset makers and then usethe power of the Vodafone brand to bring their products to market. We arepleased that we have signed this agreement with ZTE which will build on theirexperience in emerging markets to create for us an ultra-low cost handset as thefirst of a range of products we seek to develop with them." He Shiyou, senior vice president of ZTE added: "This agreement with one of theworld's largest mobile operators is a breakthrough for us and highlights ZTE'sability to develop handsets according to European Operators' requirements andstandards. Vodafone's requirements include world class design and qualitystandards combined with competitive cost structures. The signing of thisagreement has demonstrated ZTE's capability and commitment to fulfil theserequirements and deliver volumes meeting the needs of a world class operator." - ends - For further information: Vodafone GroupInvestor Relations Media RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 ZTE Lyle Closs, AxiCom UKDirect: +44 (0)20 8392 4053 Mobile: +44 (0)7720 406 383Email: [email protected] Web: www.axicom.com About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group withoperations in 25 countries across five continents and over 200 millionproportionate customers by the end of January 2007, as well as 36 partnernetworks. For further information, please visit www.vodafone.com About ZTE ZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and networksolutions. The ZTE product range is the most complete in the world - coveringvirtually every sector of the wire-line, wireless, and handset markets. Thecompany delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to customers inmore than 100 countries, helping them achieve continued revenue growth and shapethe future of the world's communications. ZTE commits around 10 percent ofannual turnover to research and development and takes a leading role in a widerange of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. It is thefastest-growing telecoms equipment company in the world and is China's onlylisted telecoms manufacturer, with shares publicly traded on both the Hong Kongand Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. ZTE was the only Chinese IT and telecomsmanufacturer listed in BusinessWeek's 2005 Information Technology 100 and wasincluded in its 2006 ranking of 'China's Top 20 Brands'. www.zte.com.cn This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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