TCL Holdings, one of China's best-known electronic brands, has been picked by Qualcomm to build wireless phones based on Qualcomm's next-generation CDMA network standard.
TCL is the first domestic mobile-handset provider to be chosen by Qualcomm to develop and manufacture the third-generation code division multiple access digital wireless handsets.
San Diego-based Qualcomm, the world's leading CDMA wireless technology vendor, yesterday said that it had signed its first royalty-bearing licensing agreement with a Chinese manufacturer.
Under the agreement, Qualcomm has granted TCL Holdings - the parent company of mainboard-listed TCL International Holdings - a licence to develop, manufacture and sell mobile handsets based on CDMA 2000 1x and 2000 1xEV, the 3G versions of Qualcomm's CDMA standard in China. The Chinese CDMA market is expected to be a key driver for Qualcomm's future earnings growth.
Details of the terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, TCL said it had entered into a 'multi-million' dollar CDMA2000 1x design technology transfer agreement with Qualcomm.
