ZTE has debuted its first Android smartphone using the Intel 32nm Atom processor platform at the Spring Intel Developer Forum in Beijing. The unfortunately-named ZTE Geek houses the Clover Trail+ processor running at 2GHz, housed inside a device that appears to be inspired by the company's Grand S LTE offering.
The Mannheim Regional Court in Germany has ruled in an LTE patent suit brought by Huawei against ZTE, with Huawei has winning an injunction in the country against ZTE. The ruling prevents it from selling LTE base stations in Germany. Despite the injunction, a minor victory was won by ZTE, as it is still allowed to sell USB "4G" modems. The devices were deemed to be not infringing, and cleared by the court.
High-end smartphones typically dominate the news at Mobile World Congress, leaving us surprised by the amount of attention garnered by Mozilla's Firefox OS. Earlier this week we checked out Alcatel's One Touch Fire, and today we had a chance to try out ZTE's Open. Both are geared for emerging markets, focusing on maximum features from basic hardware via an operating system built from web standards.
ZTE has continued its upmarket push with its new Android flagship, the Grand Memo, which will be one of the first devices to arrive with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 processor. We stopped by ZTE's Mobile World Congress booth ahead of the company's press conference to handle the new device ahead of its public launch.
As expected, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced that it is launching its investigation into InterDigital's patent complaint against mobile phone manufacturers Huawei, Samsung, Nokia, and ZTE. Non-practicing entity InterDigital Communications complained to the ITC that the four manufacturers were violating patents related to CDMA, and LTE communications. InterDigitial is seeking "permanent injunction and compensatory damages in an amount to be determined, as well as enhanced damages based on willful infringement" of the company's patents.
ZTE will be releasing a five-inch budget-ranged smartphone in China, according to a database operated by Chinese regulator TENAA. The V987 has a similar appearance to the recently-revealed Grand S LTE, though its internal specifications have been reduced in search of a cheaper price, while its physical design appears to be much thicker than the Grand S.
We stopped by the ZTE booth to check out a new smartphone the company hopes to bring into a number of new markets. The high-end device hasn't been confirmed for the US market yet, however. Its specs are certainly impressive, however, with a five-inch, 1080p resolution touchscreen and a fast 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU with four cores paired with 2GB of RAM.
Images of an unannounced "phablet" device from ZTE have leaked to the Internet, signaling that the Chinese manufacturer is likely preparing to enter the large handset market alongside Huawei and segment leader Samsung. Currently, the device is only known as the P945, but it appears to sport a 5.7-inch display, placing it between the 5.5-inch display of Samsung's Galaxy Note and the 6.1-inch display of Huawei's Ascend Mate. Currently, the device is said to be scheduled only for release in the Chinese market.
Following the announcement of an extension of its patent license agreement with Research In Motion which added "coverage for 4G, LTE, and LTE-Advanced products," non-practicing entity InterDigital announced a new United Stated International Trade Commission (USITC) complaint against Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE. InterDigitial is seeking "permanent injunction and compensatory damages in an amount to be determined, as well as enhanced damages based on willful infringement" of the company's patents.
Chinese telecom manufacturer Huawei will likely see increased scrutiny from US regulators, as a report from Reuters found that the company offered to sell at least 1.3 million euros worth of embargoed computer equipment to the largest mobile phone operator in Iran two years ago. The report cites documents in which Huawei and a closely-tied Iranian affiliate proposed providing Mobile Telecommunication Co of Iran (MCI) with Hewlett-Packard servers, disk arrays, and switches. The revelation is the second in as many months that has seen a major Huawei partner in Iran accused of violating technology embargoes.
ZTE has officially revealed its flagship Nubia Z5 Android smartphone in China, the first of the company's high-end Nubia range of devices. The smartphone announcement, almost a week later than it was rumored to, sees Chinese customers being able to preorder the five-inch handset ahead of its January release.
Images and specifications of a new low-resolution 5-inch phone-tablet from ZTE has been leaked. The budget-level phablet comes at the same time as rumors that ZTE's Nubia Z5 will be released in China on December 21st, as well as an official announcement of the company's first dual-mode Grand Era LTE smartphone in Hong Kong.
ZTE, the world's fifth-largest telecom equipment maker, announced today that it had entered into a $20 billion financing agreement with China Development Bank. The funds are meant to cover "financing facilities for the company's overseas projects and credit facilities for the company," according to a statement ZTE released today. The agreement will shore up the finances of the Chinese tech firm, which has seen significant losses this year, but it will likely raise concerns among ZTE's international competitors and regulators in the west, who are suspicious of the firm's ties to the Chinese government.
Android devices now represent 72.4 percent of the cellphone market, according to new third-quarter research data by Gartner. The figure represents a major boost over Q3 2011, when Android had a 52.5 percent share. Some of that ground appears to have come from the platform's closest rival, iOS, which has slipped from 15 to 13.9 percent. Also down are Research in Motion's BlackBerry phones, shifting from 11 to 5.3 percent, and Symbian, shrinking from 16.9 percent to just 2.6.
The first live image of ZTE's Nubia Z5 flagship smartphone introduced at the end of October has now been offered, thanks to China's CNMO. Along with the image, the source got some information about the handset, including that it will ship in Asia in December. The phone's body was reportedly styled in Italy, and a side-by-side comparison to Apple's iPhone 5 reveals it is slightly thinner.
During China's 18th Party Congress Communist party meeting, China's commerce minister decried US fears that Huawei posed a security risk. The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee warned art month that the Chinese government could be using Huawei and ZTE-made equipment for espionage purposes. The report claimed that the presence of a Communist party cell in the management of both companies was the primary reason for the concern.
Chinese smartphone maker ZTE at a recent conference introduced a new smartphone brand and the first handset to come from it. The Nubia name will apply to high-end devices from ZTE and the first phone to headline the range will be called the Z5, Weibo revealed. Nubia translates to cloudy from Latin.
Third-quarter figures from IDC suggest that Samsung and Apple account for almost half of smartphones shipped. While HTC and ZTE continue to appear in the top five smartphone vendors worldwide, Nokia has dropped from the rankings and been replaced by Research in Motion.
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei has offered to open up access to the software powering its products in an effort to allay fears in the west that it is relaying information back to China. John Lord, chairman of Huawei's Australian arm, says that the company has been ineffective in communicating with regulators in the west, and that it must do a better job of that in the future. Lord has said that Huawei would be open to sharing its code in a controlled security environment in order to assure western legislators and companies that they have nothing to fear from its products.
Amid ongoing scrutiny from US legislators and regulators, Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE divested itself of a subsidiary that sells surveillance systems. In September of this year, ZTE completed the sale of ZTE Special Equipment Co, also known as ZTEsec, while congressional investigators looked into the cyber security implications of US companies doing business with ZTE. The company, the second largest telecommunications manufacturer in China and the fifth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, is believed by some to be too closely tied to the Chinese government.
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE will report a loss as large as $279.2 million for the first nine months of 2012. This according to a preliminary results announcement ZTE made on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Sunday. ZTE's revenues have been hurt by a soft economy, and the company's fortunes have not been helped by its ongoing troubles with legislators and regulators in both the United States and the European Union.
Following the release of a report from the House Intelligence Committee, the panel investigating possible security concerns stemming from Huawei and ZTE equipment use now claims to have received "dozens and dozens" of calls from former employees and customers of the two companies. These calls, according to Reuters allege suspicious equipment behavior, especially on the part of Huawei's equipment. The development is likely to result in intensified scrutiny of the two Chinese companies' dealings, further hampering their efforts to make gains in the US telecom market.
A draft Congress report due today argues that leading Chinese telecoms producers Huawei and ZTE should be locked out of the U.S. market over security concerns, reports Reuters. The US House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee argues that the two companies are subject to the influence of the Chinese government. After 11-months of research, the committee believes that it is in the best interests of U.S. firms and the country to avoid purchasing products from either Huawei or ZTE.
Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI) and C.A. Ruppersberger (D-MD) are preparing to issue a report October 8 on a year-long investigation of smartphone and equipment manufacturers Huawei and ZTE Corp. The US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence has been examining whether the companies' expansion in the US market enables Chinese governmental espionage and endangers the telecommunications infrastructure of North America.
ZTE's upcoming flagship phone, the Blade III that was leaked about a month ago is now official. As the original report noted, the phone will come to Finland's Verkkokauppa first, later in September, before arriving in Sweden sometime in October. It will be available in white at the former and black at the latter.
China's ZTE has agreed to participate in US congressional inquiries into the companies alleged ties to the Chinese government and any potential espionage threats arising from those ties. ZTE, along with Huawei, is under investigation by the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence over subsidies the company receives from the Chinese government, as well as any potential threats to the American telecommunications infrastructure arising from ZTE's relations with assorted Chinese governmental entities. Sources familiar with the congressional proceedings tell Reuters that the hearings could begin as early as the second week of September, though negotiations are still ongoing as to which ZTE executives will appear before the committee.
At IFA, ZTE unveiled a refreshed Grand X smartphone that sports a 1.6GHz Atom Z2460 processor, which is a first for the Chinese phonemaker. The preloaded OS is Android 4.0. The other technical specs carry over from the original phone, including its 4.3-inch, 960x540 touchscreen and eight-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 1080p videos.
The next smartphone from Chinese company ZTE has been pictured online over at Finnish retailer Verkkokauppa. The device hasn't even been officially confirmed by its maker, but its specs are revealed by the listing. They include a 4.0-inch, 800x480-pixel touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and Android 4.0.
The next smartphone from Chinese company ZTE has been pictured online over at Finnish retailer Verkkokauppa. The device hasn't even been officially confirmed by its maker, but its specs are revealed by the listing. They include a 4.0-inch, 800x480-pixel touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and Android 4.0.
Chinese mobile communications gear maker ZTE has unveiled two new products, with the MF91S mobile hotspot and MF820S2 USB modem. Both support the FD-LTE and TD-LTE high-speed mobile broadband standards that are becoming more and more popular in worldwide markets. The devices are best suited for China, thanks to TD-SCDMA and EDGE network compatibility when there is no LTE connection available.
Sprint may be preparing to give away a 7-inch tablet with the purchase of a new or renewal smartphone contract. TechnoBuffalo has uncovered a flier that says the carrier will unveil a new offer; one wherein customers will receive a ZTE Optik along with the purchase of a new smartphone on a two-year contract. Customers taking advantage of the offer won't just be signing up for a smartphone contract, though; the carrier will require that they activate a new contract with the Optik as well.
Chinese handset manufacturer ZTE may be launching a flagship-level handset on Sprint later this fall. The ZTE Flash has shown up in what appears to be an internal document acquired by TalkAndroid. The document shows off a good deal of specs for the device, which represents something of a departure for ZTE, as the company's phones are usually more underpowered affairs.
Chinese device maker ZTE believes that its competitors are spending too much time trying to develop the next cutting edge handset and too little time developing devices that can sell at a price point attractive to consumers. This according to ZTE's European marketing and business development director Chris Edwards, who PC Pro reports spoke at a launch event for the company's new Grand X smartphone. ZTE is attempting to carve out a niche for itself in the low to mid-range market, and it believes its competitors are going about addressing that market in entirely the wrong fashion.
Twin reports today brought a wave of bad news for ZTE, China's second-largest telecom equipment maker. Reuters reports that the company has issued a warning forecasting a drastic drop in profits for the first half of this year. Meanwhile, BBC News has discovered that the Chinese company is currently under investigation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation over alleged shipments of embargoed equipment to Iran.
In a post today on The Mozilla Blog, Mozilla confirmed that next year will see the launch of a number of phones powered by its Firefox operating system. The new operating system, built on Mozilla's "Boot to Gecko project," will run HTML5 apps and is aimed at furthering the development of that standard while providing a low-cost operating system for smartphones aimed at developing markets. The browser maker has teamed with a number of telecoms, including Sprint, Smart, and Telefica, as well as device manufacturers Alcatel and ZTE.
Chinese telecom manufacturer ZTE has set its sights high for the next few years. As +D Mobile reports today, the company has reaffirmed its lofty sales estimates for this year, and executives believe ZTE can achieve the number-three position among smartphone manufacturers within the next three years.
The US House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee is looking into the relationship between the Chinese government and Chinese telecom manufacturers Huawei and ZTE. Committee chair Mike Rogers, speaking with Reuters, said he believes it is necessary to look into whether or not the two manufacturers are receiving unfair subsidies from the Chinese government, and whether hardware from the companies could represent a national security threat.
Chinese manufacturer ZTE launched its Tania handset in China today. The Tania is the first Windows Phone developed by a Chinese company. As Chinese tech blog WP Dang reports, the Tania will be exclusive to China Unicom, and the Chinese model of the phone ships with a faster processor than will its international counterparts.
Chinese manufacturer ZTE may be preparing to snatch the title of "World's Thinnest Smartphone" from Oppo, which just recently released its 6.65mm-thick Finder. Leaked pictures have emerged showing off a ZTE smartphone, codenamed "Athena," that appears to be just 6.2mm thick. A few details have emerged with the images, indicating that the slim model may pack some processing power within its frame.
Chinese telecom hardware manufacturers Huawei and ZTE have denied receiving any illegal subsidies from the government of China, Reuters reports today. The two cellphone makers have come under fire for alleged unfair trade practices and now are rumored to face impending punitive action from European Union regulators.
Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers Huawei and ZTE are under investigation by European Union regulators, who have been building a case that the two companies have benefited from illegal government subsidies. Sources familiar with the investigation have told The Financial Times that the accusations against the two telecom companies make up the major focus of a larger case that could result in punitive tariffs covering a range Chinese exports to the EU.
Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE is reportedly under investigation by the US Department of Commerce over alleged sales of embargoed US computer equipment to Iran. Commerce Department officials close to the investigation tell Reuters that the department is aggressively conducting its investigation, and fines for ZTE could range into the tens of millions of dollars.
ZTE acknowledged today that its Score handset has a security flaw: a hardwired password that allows anyone with knowledge of it to access any handset. As Reuters reports, the company is currently working to patch the phone's vulnerability. Some contend that the security flaw extends to other ZTE models, including the Skate.
Although most hardware makers have focused on new cellphones and related accessories at the CTIA expo this week, ZTE also brought its new V96 tablet. The 10.1-inch device brings a standard set of Ice Cream Sandwich tablet features, along with multi-band radios for GSM and LTE networks.
Chinese handset manufacturer ZTE and Virgin Media are teaming up to launch the ZTE Tania in the United Kingdom. The Tania, set for a May UK launch, is ZTE's first Windows Phone 7 device. At launch, the Tania will be available for £199 on pay as you go with Virgin, or customers can pick it up for £17.99 a month on a 24 month contract.
Some new tips have pointed to Verizon aiming for the low-cost tablet with more definitive plans for a ZTE tablet. An accessory maker claimed to PocketNow that the seven-inch, unreleased V66 would come to Verizon as the Turbine. It's rumored to be similar to the Optik at Sprint, sharing its dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon, but would have the expected much faster 4G LTE data.
Chinese handset maker ZTE is looking to reverse declining margins on its phones by improving its brand image to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung. Reuters reports that the company expects it may be shipping 100 million smartphones a year by 2015.
Intel China chairman Sean Maloney at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing on Wednesday said many Intel-based tablets with Windows 8 are coming before year's end. He went on to say the company is working with 10 Chinese and global hardware makers on such tablets, but didn't name them. The most likely candidate chip to power the tablets is the Atom Z2460, also dubbed Medfield internally.
China's second biggest telecommunications gear maker ZTE was found to have sold embargoed US computer equipment to Iran. A Tuesday Reuters report claimed that documents show ZTE sold some computer gear as part of a $10.5 million supply contract to a unit that controls Iranian telecoms. The documents are dated June 30, 2011 and explain how Iran got sophisticated US hardware despite sanctions against such transactions.
An uncommon study from Stenvall Sköld & Company has shown that much of Apple's mobile device share in China is disproportionately located in its urban areas. Based both on its own device analysis and research from local firm Umeng, it saw the distribution of 21 million iOS devices understandably skewed towards those provinces with the most urbanized populations. The highest concentration at 13.4 percent wasn't in one of the biggest cities but instead Guangdong province, home to Shenzhen and the Foxconn plants that make most of the iPads and iPhones for the world.
