TD-SCDMA phones on the way

Mobile phone manufacturer Foxconn, a division of Taiwanese electronics parts maker Hon Hai, is to make handsets based on the TD-SCDMA standard and expects its first orders next year when networks using the technology roll out next year.

The parent of China Mobile, the world's largest mobile operator in terms of users, catering to a market of almost half a billion, is spending around $3.1 billion (1.5 billion) to build a TD-SCDMA network, which some expect to go into widespread commercial use in late 2007.

TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) is China's homegrown third generation mobile telecoms standard, offering faster Internet access than second-generation digital technology used by most cell phones. European and American firms are focused on better established W-CDMA and CDMA2000 standards. But several local and foreign vendors are researching and rolling out equipment based on the Chinese technology.

"Right now our research and development of TD-SCMA devices is in its initial stages. But we already have a few clients who have expressed interest in TD cell phones," Foxconn spokesman Vincent Tong said.

He declined to disclose the size of Foxconn's investment. Foxconn makes phones under the brand names of global giants Nokia, Motorola, and Samsung.

Besides Foxconn, Taiwan's BenQ - the world's sixth largest mobile phone vendor - has also expressed an interest in developing TD products.