TCL Launches New Range of Phones Featuring TTPCom Technology

Over 4m phones shipped with TTPCom during 2003

Cambridge, UK, (PRWEB) November 15, 2003 -- TTPCom Ltd, the worlds leading independent supplier of digital wireless technology, and Chinas leading mobile phone manufacturer TCL Mobile Communication Ltd. today announce the launch of a new range of mobile phones in China using TTPComs technology. The phones are the result of a collaboration announced in January of this year between the two companies and include a top of the range camera phone and entry-level products for the China market and beyond.

The TCL 818 camera phone is a flagship product featuring integrated digital camera, two colour LCDs, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and polyphonic sound. All of the new phones, including the entry level models i919, i929, i939 and middle level L718, feature exciting wireless games using TTPComs wireless graphics engine (WGE) and incorporate GPRS class 10 technology which will enable users to make good use of available GPRS networks for the exchange of photos and other media. TCL has utilised TTPComs Dzign tool to facilitate the easy branding and customisation of the phones man machine interface (MMI).

TCL has stated its ambition to become number 5 in the world mobile phone market within the next 3 years and last year the company increased its manufacturing capacity to 12 million phones. To enable TCL to make a step change in the number of mobile phones under development, TTPCom and TCL signed a long-term strategic agreement in January 2003.

Under the terms of the agreement TTPCom and TCL created a joint development lab to facilitate the transfer of wireless expertise and know how between the two companies, to bring the latest functionality to market in as short a time as possible and to enable TCL to develop a roadmap of innovative products suitable for the worldwide mobile phone market. The lab has been incredibly successful and during 2003 TCL has supplied over 4 million phones into the Chinese market based on TTPComs protocol software and chipset designs.

Dr Wang Ji Yang, Deputy CTO of TCL stated, Working with TTPCom has enabled us to take more control of the products that we are developing and to create customised designs that we know are attractive to the Chinese market. We are very pleased with the speed at which we have been able to develop a wide selection of new entry level and top of the range camera phones. TTPComs platform approach, that enables technology to be reused across a range of phones, is key to keeping pace with a fast changing market and with TTPComs assistance we have consolidated our position as the leading manufacturer in China. Our next objective is to take these products to Europe." He added, as a long-term strategic partner, TTPCom have provided a very clear roadmap for future technologies, and development of a new Smartphone for the Chinese market is already at an advanced stage."

Since establishing the TCL lab we have worked very closely with TCL to expand their product range. Their engineers are very experienced in mobile phone developments and we have every confidence that TCL phones will start to emerge in Europe within the next 12 months" commented Dr Miles Upton, Commercial Director at TTPCom Singapore. TTPComs technology has been designed with flexibility in mind, allowing customers to easily develop a variety of differentiated products from the same core platform. In addition, with our long-standing experience in GSM/GPRS phone technology we are able to anticipate the issues that might delay production and can speed products through the approvals process. This approach has delivered real time to market benefits for TCL as demonstrated by the strong sales of handsets using our technology during 2003".

Notes to Editors
Flexible product development using the same core technology TTPComs range of wireless communications technology is built around a stable and proven GSM/GPRS software core and extends from the development of applications for mobile phones through to the design of wireless baseband and radio chips. All elements of TTPCom technology are fully integrated and designed with portability in mind. It is the modular nature of the technology that offers TCL maximum flexibility to develop a range of differentiated products to suit different market sectors simply by choosing different technology modules.

Many of Europes leading mobile devices are built around TTPComs core GSM/GPRS software, including the Sharp GX10 and GX20 camera phones available on Vodafone Live!, the Toshiba TS22i i-mode handset, RIM BlackBerry and the Novatel Wireless Merlin PCMCIA card. Over 100 different products using TTPComs technology have achieved regulatory approval for use on over 70 networks worldwide, and the diversity of these products reflects the flexibility offered by TTPComs approach.

About TCL Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.
TCL Mobile Communications Co. Ltd is a member of TCL Communication industrial group which belongs to one of the largest producers of electronic devices in China -- TCL Corporation. TCL Mobile is a hi-tech joint venture committed to R&D, manufacturing and sales of mobile terminal products. Since the company was set up in March 1999, it has always aimed to create an internationalised mobile communication enterprise". After three years rapid growth, the company is now the strongest local mobile handset supplier in China. More information from: http://www.tclmobile.com.

About TTPCom
Based in Cambridge, UK, TTPCom Ltd. is the principal operating subsidiary of TTP Communications plc (LSE: TTC). The company develops intellectual property used in the design and manufacture of wireless communication terminals. TTPCom licenses its technology to leading semiconductor and terminal manufacturers worldwide, including Analog Devices, Intel, Renesas (formerly Hitachi), Siemens, Sharp and Toshiba.

TTPCom has established an industry standard with its GPRS platform, offers EDGE, 3G, Wireless LAN and Wireless PAN solutions and, for those manufacturers for whom a fast time to market is critical, TTPCom also offers complete handset and module designs. Between 20 and 25 million devices using TTPCom technology have been shipped during 2003. More information can be found on TTPComs website at: http://www.ttpcom.com.
###
Contacts:
Angela Manthorpe, TTPCom Limited, Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road, Melbourn, Royston, Herts, SG8 6HQ, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0) 1763 266266, Email: angela.manthorpe@ttpcom.com.

Allan Edwards, Neesham Public Relations, Tel: +44 (0) 1442 879222, Email: allane@neesham.co.uk