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Sharp to sell 3G mobile phone in China soon: report

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Sharp Corp. plans to launch its first mobile phone designed for advanced 3G wireless technology in China next month, with other models to follow there by the end of the current fiscal year, according to a report Thursday.

Japan's Nikkei business daily reported that Sharp's (JP:6753 926.00, +22.00, +2.43%) (SHCA.Y 9.87, +0.27, +2.81%) first 3G handset, the Aquos, is expected to be sold for roughly 5,000 yuan ($732).

Sharp plans to release at least one handset model each for China Mobile Communications Corp. (CHL 49.09, -0.03, -0.06%) (HK:941 75.35, -1.75, -2.27%) and China Telecom Corp. (CHA 52.19, -0.61, -1.16%) (HK:728 4.03, -0.03, -0.74%) by the end of the fiscal year ending in March, according to the report.

Sharp is the only Japanese cellphone maker currently in the Chinese market, and now sells seven 2G handsets there, according to the report.