Unicom to launch first Wophone handset this week
China's second cellco will debut its own Linux-based software platform, six months behind schedule, with six handset partners lined up
Published: 18 July, 2011
READ MORE: China | China Unicom | Application Environment | Linux
The first products for China Unicom's own Wophone platform are to launch this week, challenging the oPhone brand of market leader China Mobile.
Wophone is expected to be less tied to Android than Mobile's OS and store, though the decision to have greater self-sufficiency may have cost Unicom dearly in terms of time to market. Its apps platform is about six months later than originally anticipated. It will provide a developer platform, apps store and user interface based around a more generic version of Linux than Android.
According to PC World, the first handset will be launched this week at a corporate summit, though it is not yet known which of Unicom's OEM partners will get the initial laurels. In February, the cellco said its Wopone suppliers would be Samsung, HTC and Motorola Mobility, plus local players Huawei, ZTE and TCL.
According to new estimates from IHS iSuppli, shipments of smartphones in China are set to rise by a record 53% this year to 54.1m units, up from 35.3m units in 2010. Sales this year will be dominated by ZTE and Huawei, which will account for 10m and 15m smartphones respectively.
More CHINA News
More CHINA UNICOM News
More APP STORE News
COMMENTS
Carrier Broadband Performance: Africa & Middle East
Carriers are using mobile broadband as their weapon of choice in the fight against the commoditization of voice and falling ARPU. This...
Voice over LTE: Market Analysis and Forecasts
VoLTE offer unique advantages in lowering a carrier's voice infrastructure economics and promises to improve voice quality, device...
Satellite Phones: Will Dual Mode Help the Phoenix Rise from the Ashes?
Satellite phones have followed an arduous path since their much-hyped launch more than a decade ago. The hype was followed by an e...
