China Mobile launched its own mobile phone operating system which can support its homegrown 3G standard. It’s a significant move by the world’s biggest wireless carrier aimed at driving up use of its 3G services by expanding handset portfolios.
Chairman of China Mobile, Wang Jianzhou said “The release of the Ophone operating system is likely to dramatically cut the costs of developing TD-SCDMA handsets by mobile phone makers.”
China Mobile also showcased a slew of handsets based on the Ophone system, which were developed by mobile phone makers including Dell, Lenovo, Philips and Samsung.
Chang Xiaobing said during a conference call with analysts that his company was likely to start selling the popular device on Sept 28, when China Unicom will expand its 3G coverage to 285 cities.
Apple may sell more than as many as 3 million iPhones in China during the next year, according to market research firm Piper Jaffray.
The release of Ophone may give a boost to China Mobile, analysts said.
According to a survey on www.sina.com.cn, the largest Internet portal in China, 51 percent of the 2,161 respondents said they might buy an Ophone, attracted by its “powerful” mobile Internet connection and application functions.
Liu Yinglai, a 30-year-old editor, said he might try the Ophone handset rather than the iPhone “because I am a supporter of the homegrown TD-SCDMA 3G standard, but its performance had better not disappoint me”.
The launch of Ophone, if it is successful, should help China Mobile to fend off challenges from iPhone, Allan Ng, an analyst at BOC International said.
The Ophone release is the latest effort by China Mobile to rev up its business both in the service segment and 3G market.