Panasonic takes on local GSM phone market

Just one day after BenQ launched its mobile phone range in Romania under its own brand, Panasonic officials have premiered their entire range of GSM terminals that are to become available in stores as of now. Panasonic expects a 33 million-euro turnover in Romania this year, 10% up on last year, and decided to take the GSM segment to boost revenues in 2005. Until now, it has relied on sales from electronics and IT equipment, LCD and plasma TVs, Home Cinema systems, audio and video products and accessories, digital projectors and other telecoms equipment. “GSM used to account for only a small part of our business,” said Stefan Ichim, marketing manager of the Telecommunications department of Panasonic Romania. He went on to say that the entire range of GSM terminals manufactured by Panasonic would be available on the domestic market from this moment on and would cover the entire consumer segment. ZF