Casio Computer has announced their plans to launch W-CDMA mobile devices in the Japanese market.
The Japan-based company currently develops CDMA-based phones and partners with Japan’s KDDI Corp, Verizon Wireless in the United States and South Korea’s LG Telecom Ltd. to supply to devices.
NTT DoCoMo Inc and Softbank Corp, the largest and third-largest wireless operators respectively, provide mobile phone services based on W-CDMA technology. For the W-CDMA phone, the mobile manufacturer is expected to tie up with either of the two wireless network operators.
Expected to be available sometime during October 2008 to March 2009, this competing W-CDMA handsets has been designed to reach out to a wider range of potential customers.
Sharp and Panasonic maker Matsushita Electric, rivals of Casio, also supply their mobile phones through KDDI. Thus, Casio, who is known for its waterproof and shock-resistant mobiles, do have a competition for CDMA devices.
Casio Managing Director Akinori Takagi, said “Its cell phone business is expected to return to profitability in the October-March second half due to new handset launches and cost cuts.”
Casio also said that mobile phones sales were more than that of digital cameras and its operating profit came to around 13.7 billion yen in April-September this year.
