My comment..HTC supplies Dopod with all its smartphone devices...and some wonder why Institutions buy IDCC stock without news..
Dopod launches “Smart Phone” 515
Dopod, China Mobile and Microsoft join hands to unveil “Smart Revolution”
Beijing, August 15, 2003 – Dopod today officially launched the “Smart Phone” 515, the first mobile phone in the world to adopt the Chinese version of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 2003 software for Smartphone. With today’s introduction, Dopod will now offer two product lines based on Microsoft Windows Mobile software for Pocket PCs and Smartphones.
With the launch of Dopod’s new generation smart phone with powerful multimedia and mobile communications functions, China Mobile also unveiled its “e Network”, a platform to provide wireless data services, including entertainment content, for smart mobile handsets.
Dopod, the first company in the world focusing on high-end smart phones, launched “Smart Phone”515, China Mobile, the largest mobile operator in the world, unveiled “e Network” data service platform, and Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, released the smartphone Chinese version. The combined announcements of these companies today reflect the recognition of China’s expansive mobile market. The “smart” era is here. China’s mobile market and telecom service will see an upgrade from traditional voice and short messages communications to multimedia and data communications.
Last year, Dopod launched the “Hero Phone” 686, which quickly became a leading phone in China’s mobile market. During the past year, Dopod focused on developing the value chain of its “Smart Phone” product and internal improvement. Now with movie star Chen Daoming as its spokesperson, Dopod is again the focus of the mobile industry with its launch of “Smart Phone” 515.
As a new generation smart phone combining voice communications, wireless Internet connections and powerful multimedia functions, Dopod 515 is based on the latest version of Microsoft Windows Mobile software for Smartphones. In appearance, this new phone is almost the same as traditional mobile phones. But inside it is totally different. It is not a traditional phone any more, but a combination of computing, networking, communications and personal entertainment devices. With such a smart phone, you can not only talk, take pictures and videos, and send short messages, but also watch TV, movies and MTV, listen to MP3 and online music, play 3D and online games, chat with MSN and QQ, and check real time market and flight information. With the familiar PC interface, you can synchronize data through Outlook, surf the net and receive and send emails.
Even for basic functions, the Smartphone is designed to be intuitive. You don’t need to download ring tones from a specialized website. Its rings are based on hi-fi music downloaded from the Internet. The display can be any picture you have. The launch of “Smart Phone” 515 reflects the start of China’s Smartphone market and the maturity of mobile multimedia services.
Since Dopod 686 was launched last year, more and more people have experienced the convenience and fun that smart devices bring to their life. According to IDC estimates, smart phones will become the fastest growing sector in the smart handheld device market.
“Telecom, IT and consumer companies have all realized the huge market potential of smart phones,” said Yang Xingping, CEO of Dopod. “With the launch of Dopod 686, we led the trend of the convergence of IT, Internet and telecom products. Today’s launch of ‘Smart Phone’ 515 will further expand Dopod’s product line, and also provide new opportunities for China’s mobile industry. I believe that China’s smart phone market will grow rapidly with more phones launched by traditional mobile manufacturers and IT companies. Chinese consumers will get the mobile devices that will change their lives.”
“With the launch of Dopod’s new powerful ‘Smart Phone,’ that offers multimedia and wireless Internet connection functions, China Mobile’s ‘e Network’ will find a fast growing market for entertainment and personalized information services,” said Lu Xiangdong, vice president of China Mobile. “We hope the launch of Dopod 515 and other smart mobile devices this summer will propel China Mobile’s upgrade of its services from traditional voice and short message communications to multimedia and data communications.”
“Microsoft is excited to meet China’s need for feature-rich mobile phones with Windows Mobile 2003 software for Smartphones, which is localized specifically for China and offers the flexibility to incorporate robust applications and services,” said Eddie Wu, Senior Director of Microsoft Greater China “Windows Mobile software keeps people in-touch and entertained while mobile. In addition to providing a great mobile phone experience, the software lets users synchronize their most important information (e-mail, calendar, contacts) from Outlook, browse the Internet, listen to music, customize their phones with personalization options such as ring tones, color themes and home screens, and mobile applications and services. The new Windows Mobile 2003 software for Smartphone enhances the user experience, incorporating support for always-up-to-date email synchronization, a powerful digital media experience, and support for developers building Microsoft .NET services and applications. In addition, this latest version of Windows Mobile software offers support for 14 new languages; making the product easily customizable for new markets and customers. From its inception, we developed our Windows Mobile software to evolve with industry partners’ needs and industry trends”
About Dopod
Since the day when human beings appeared on the earth, people have been always trying to create new ways for communications. Accompanying with the formation of language, creation of words, development and popularity of the Internet, human communications get into a more civilized era. The progress brought by the wisdom and inspiration of human beings provides the possibility of new life styles.
Dopod is devoted to constructing mobile communications platform which integrates voice, information and mobile multimedia. Based on the development, manufacturing and marketing of wireless mobile multimedia GSM/GPRS,CDMA devices, Dopod is working hard on the research and application of wireless Internet software technology to seek new communications ways for mobile communications in China. Dopod aims to be the leader of wireless communications products and mobile communications service.
Founded by Doctor Yang Xingping, Dopod Communications Corp. is a joint venture with CEC--the leading company in electronic industry in China The headquarters is in Shanghai and the production base is in Wuhan.
