Cellular operator SmarTone has signed a memorandum of understanding with equipment-supplier Ericsson and the Chinese University of Hong Kong which will see the trio work together on the development of a new generation of mobile phone applications.
Under the agreement the university will look to develop new applications suitable to local conditions with the help and backing of SmarTone and Ericsson.
Vice-chancellor Arthur Li Kwok-cheung said a university team would focus on developing ideas to harness the third generation of mobile services.
These are technologies to be introduced in the next three to four years that will allow much higher data speeds to be used in mobile networks.
'SmarTone wants to be the first to find the answer of how to develop applications for mobile data communications,' chief executive Hubert Ng said.
The company is not committing any cash as part of the deal.