ZTE launches slimmest quad-core smartphone

MANILA - ZTE Corporation, a leading global telecom equipment and network solutions provider, expects 500 percent growth for its handsets in the Philippines after the launch of its new products ZTE Grand Era, the world's slimmest quad-core smartphone and GrandX LTE T82, a 4.3-inch dual core smartphone in Makati on Thursday.

ZTE Philippines Company President Chen Yi said at a news briefing, "The Grand Era has opened the door to the quad-core era for ZTE smartphones, adding, "We believe this product will produce a butterfly effect across the industry and the market."

"The Grand Series has many distinguishable features that set it apart from other smartphones in the country. The handsets are high- quality yet price competitive which satisfy the demand for high- quality and affordable smartphones across the Philippines," the ZTE president said.

Liu Guoxin, regional brand director for ZTE Asia Pacific and Commonwealth of Independent States, told Xinhua that the Philippines is the first Asian country for the launch of Grand Era, due to its large population, wide acceptance of ZTE products and good market prospects. The flagship product will soon be launched in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The addition of Grand Era to the current line-up of ZTE smartphones is expected to strengthen the position of the ZTE brand as a serious player in the domestic mobile handset market.

According to Feng Kan, ZTE Philippines Device Department director, all Grand Series models are dual-sim capable. With the use of dual SIM card slots in one handset, mobile users with ZTE Dual SIM smartphones can combine their work and personal communication without the complication and high cost of having two devices.

ZTE is China's only listed telecom manufacturer publicly traded in both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen bourses. As a relatively new player in the mobility market in the Philippines, according to Gartner Report 3Q12, ZTE shipped 16.7 million handsets in the third quarter of this year, ranking the 4th biggest handset manufacturer in the world with 3.9 percent market share, only after Samsung, Nokia and Apple.