According to Chinese research and analysis firm Market Intelligence Center (MIC), the Chinese mobile phone industry's shipment volume is expected to grow nearly 22% to 558 million units in 2007. MIC attributes the expected growth to a strong domestic market in China and an increase in shipments from international vendors. MIC expects international phone manufacturers to ship 340 million units to China in 2007. In 2006 the total handset shipments increased nearly 54% to 457.6 million units, up from 298.0 million units in 2005.
In other Chinese handset news, according to news reports, Nokia is planning to launch a phone based on China's homegrown 3G standard, TD-SCDMA. Reports say the phone is expected to be available early next year.
Chinese operators cannot yet officially offer 3G services; network operators are still waiting for the government to issue 3G licenses. The Chinese government has been moving ahead with planned commercial launches of 3G services, as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing draws near.
Of the 347 million handsets sold by Nokia in 2006, 51 million of those went to Greater China. China, so far, is the only country that supports the TD-SCDMA standard.
Source : Wireless Week