BenQ and Siemens claim 17% of mobile phone market

BenQ Mobile representatives in Romania say the merger has driven the new company to the second place on the domestic market.

The Taiwanese manufacturer of digital equipment BenQ, which bought the mobile phone division of Siemens this year estimates to sell more than 500,000 phones in Romania in 2005.

“Our market share is put at 17%. A number of about 3 million mobile phones will be sold on the domestic market this year,” Dorian Radu, the head of the local BenQ Mobile office told ZIARUL FINANCIAR.

At the moment, the ranking of the main vendors of mobile telephones on the domestic market is the industry”s best-guarded secret. The only undisputed information is that Nokia remains the market leader in Romania, as well.

The newly formed BenQ Mobile company is the only sales representative for the BenQ and Siemens mobile phones, with preparations being made now to introduce the first jointly branded terminals on the market, BenQ Siemens.

“Our three brands, BenQ, Siemens and BenQ Siemens will co-exist for quite a while,” stated Dorian Radu. “BenQ Mobile”s intent is to promote all the products in its portfolio on the domestic market,” he explained. The company will launch phones for all product categories from entry-level handsets to smart phones, and even 3G terminals in 2006.

“At the same time we will consolidate our presence in the portfolio of the telephony operators,” the BenQ Mobile head promised. The leading Taiwanese manufacturer of electronics and IT&C equipment, BenQ, struck a deal with Germany”s Siemens in June 2005, paying about 350 million euros for the latter”s mobile phone division. The division was operating at a loss, posting 500 million-euro losses in 2004.

“BenQ Mobile”s plans are to make profit, above all, by combining the advantages and the Siemens product portfolio with the technological expertise and consumer-oriented attitude that is specific to BenQ,” Dorian Radu explained.