WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.
China Mobile set for TD-SCDMA Windows Phone launch.
Marbridge Daily reports that China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator, is set to offer a Windows Phone-powered device supporting its TD-SCDMA 3G network “soon,” providing a significant boost for the Microsoft platform in the country.
Citing Pan Zhiyong, general manager of the operator’s Guangzhou branch, the report did not state which vendor would be manufacturing the device. However, HTC and Nokia were suggested as potential candidates.
At the GSMA Mobile World Congress last month, Nokia said it planned to “make a range of Lumia smartphones available in China, covering both CDMA and WCDMA technologies in the coming months.” This has been enabled by changes to the Microsoft platform both to support Chinese language requirements and to enable lower-cost smartphones using the OS.
Nokia also has a track-record of offering smartphones with TD-SCDMA support, powered by its legacy Symbian OS platform. It launched its first TD-SCDMA device in 2009.
HTC has also previously offered TD-SCDMA devices, powered by Android.
While China has long been a strong market for Nokia and Symbian OS, the company has come under increased pressure from rivals such as Samsung in recent months, with Android becoming the platform of choice in this market.
Apple has also recently begun sales of its iPhone through a second operator, China Telecom, alongside existing partner, China Unicom, although the lack of a TD-SCDMA variant has closed of China Mobile as a partner.
