Li Ka-shing's telecom operator, Hutchison Whampoa, recently established a global mobile phone division INQ, which will launch its first mobile phone product at the end of the month. According to reports, China’s Amoi Electronics (or any manufacturer designated by Amoi) will become INQ's first major equipment supplier. INQ is the latest global mobile phone division established by Hutchison Whampoa. Members of INQ include professional designers, user interface experts, and engineers who are dedicated to enhancing users' mobile internet experience. In order to promote the use of the Internet in the mass market, INQ has specially designed and developed a new mobile internet platform and will launch the latest mobile model, INQ1, at the end of October. Hutchison Whampoa's 3 company is the first mobile operator to provide customized phones for free internet calls, a move similar to Japan's NTT DoCoMo's i-mode phones. Hutchison Whampoa's X-series services allow mobile phones to directly access the public internet. INQ is discussing with major telecom operators around the world the use of these specially designed devices to significantly reduce the cost of using mobile phones for internet access, allowing operators to offer more price discounts to consumers. This move by Hutchison Whampoa also presents a huge business opportunity for Amoi. INQ CEO Mickan said: "Amoi has always been a long-term partner of Hutchison Whampoa and has launched a series of successful Skype phones. We believe this global business opportunity will benefit Amoi."
Sina Tech