Chinese mobile manufacturer Huawei to push ahead in UK

Chinese mobile technology developer Huawei are looking to promote their brand as well as their new line of smart-phones, dubbed the Ideos, in the UK, with a number of marketing strategies and promotional campaigns.

The company has previously only worked on development for other operating providers, but their Ideos brand, running Android and designed to compete with today's cutting edge handsets, are set to be released in the UK in 2011.

Having sold over one million handsets in over 70 countries, the company have raised their popularity with several high profile campaigns, including a donation of £20,000 to the Prince's Trust garnered from VIP tickets to their charity event, and sponsorship of the Christmas Classics concert by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in December 2010.

Anthony Catterson, CEO of the influential online retailer Expansys, stated, “I expect to see the rise of Eastern brands. Firms with enormous R&D capabilities, like Huawei and ZTE, will be the ones to watch this year.”

The company is noted for its large research and development budget, with 10% of its overall revenue re-invested yearly. Founded in 1988 in Shenzhen, the company has risen to become the largest telecommunications provider in China.

The Ideos, billed as budget smart-phone, sports a 528 Mhz processor, a 3.2 megapixel camera, Android 2.2 pre-installed and Bluetooth. It is expected to cost no more than £129.

Global sales have reached $11 billion, 65% from outside China. Forbes recently named Huawei one of the 200 most respected companies in the world.