ZTE the First Chinese Vendor to Enter Japanese Smartphone Market

14 December 2010, Shenzhen– ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, and SoftBank, Japan's top telecommunications operator, today announced that their jointly developed Android smartphone, Libero, will be available throughout Japan later in December. The Libero will be the first Chinese smartphone to launch in Japan.

Also known as the SoftBank 003Z or ZTE Blade, the introduction of the Liberointo the high end mobile market in Japan is a significant breakthrough which demonstrates the company's ability to provide quality and customized smartphones to any market in the world. The Libero is ZTE's second hanset developed in collaboration with SoftBank – the first being the SoftBank 840Z, which was launched in late October this year.

Weighing only 115 grams and at 114 x 56 x 12.2mm in size, the Libero is the thinnest and lightest smartphone offering in SoftBank's winter-spring 2010/2011 product lineup. The smartphone uses the latest Android™ 2.2 operating system, incorporates a 3.5-inch WVGA TFT display, and supports Japanese, English and Chinese languages. Prior to the Japan launch, the ZTE Blade had already achieved success in Europe, having been launched in Britain, France, Germany, Finland, Norway, Turkey, Hungary, as well as in 20 other countries across Europe.

ZTE and SoftBank also announced that from October this year to March 2011, both companies will collaborate to launch eight models of terminal products into the Japanese market. Products will include additional smart phones, high-speed data cards, 42M and 14M Mi-Fi (mobile Internet hotspot) modems, 3G monitors, and Easy phones for both children and the elderly. SoftBank's Easy products are recommended by the Japan National Children's Federation. ZTE's 42M datacards and Mi-Fi devices are mobile broadband products currently providing the highest Internet access speeds.  

"Japan is a market leader in technology trends and we are delighted our cell phones and mobile broadband products are now available in the Japanese market, " said Mr. Suo Donghui, president of ZTE Japan. "Through ZTE's personalized customization and innovation, we can bring advanced, forward-thinking and cost-effective products, as well as great user experiences to Japanese users."