ZTE Launches New SKATE Model in the U.S

(2011-11-09 11:45)

ZTE WarpTM is available in the United States as of 2 November 2011. ZTE Warp is based on the ZTE SKATE, ZTE’s global flagship handset and is only available on Boost Mobile, one of Sprint’s no-contract brands.

ZTE Warp Delivers Design and Functionality of Principal Global Handset

The ZTE Warp in the U.S. joins the SKATE lineup, which is already available in Brazil, Spain, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Germany and Hungary. By the end of the year, SKATE will launch in additional European countries including France, Greece and Serbia as well as Asia-Pacific regions such as Malaysia and mainland China.

“The ZTE Warp, part of the global SKATE brand, is an important product for us as we become more competitive in the American market,” said He Shiyou, Executive Vice President and Head of the Terminal Division, ZTE. “The U.S. market is vital to our success, as we see a great opportunity to bring the quality, affordable devices that we have become known for around the world to consumers in this region.”

“The ZTE Skate builds on the success of ZTE Blade smart phone. More than six million Blade handsets have been sold globally and we are on target to ship 12 million total smart terminals by the end of the year. We are hoping to bring the success we’ve seen globally to the U.S. and gain share in this priority market,” he added.

From 2010, ZTE has been working to establish relationships with the top wireless carriers in the United States and has worked with them to introduce a number of hotspots, feature phones and smartphones. Notable devices have included the recently announced ZTE ScoreTM Android smartphone with Cricket, which was ZTE’s first smartphone available to American consumers. As of the first three quarters 2011, ZTE’s terminal products shipment had achieved a year-on-year increase of 157% in the United States.

ZTE’s strategic move to the smartphone market in 2011 has helped to expand its market share among handset manufacturers globally.  According to the 3Q11 report by telecoms industry analysts ABI research, IDC and Strategy Analytics, ZTE become the fourth largest handset manufacturer in the world. To continue this momentum, ZTE has committed 70% of its Terminal Division’s R&D resources to developing new smart terminals for worldwide consumption.

In 2012, ZTE will bring its full series 4G products, including tablets, hotspots and handsets to the U.S. market. It is estimated that the United States will become ZTE’s largest terminal sales market in 2015.