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To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (53489)	10/1/2001 12:20:03 PM
From: Proud_Infidel	Respond to of 70976

Taiwan's Mobile Phone Suppliers Lower Sales Outlooks October 1, 2001 (TAIPEI) -- Mobile phone retailers and manufacturers in Taiwan recently lowered their sales outlooks for the local market to around five million phones this year, down 20 percent to 30 percent from the highest previous projection of up to seven million phones. Panasonic Taiwan recently revised its sales downward to four million to 4.5 million phones this year from a forecast of 5.5 million to seven million phones issued early this year. The company attributed the weak sales to slower-than-expected demand and rollout of general packet radio service (GPRS), the so-called "2.5 generation" cellular technology bridging the second-generation GSM (global system for mobile communications) and third-generation technology. Taiwan Tele-Shop Co., Ltd. estimated sales would shrink between 20 percent and 30 percent to approach four million to 4.9 million phones in 2001 from last year's six million to 6.5 million handsets. The retailer ascribed the recession to the late rollout of GPRS phones by manufacturers. Motorola Taiwan estimated its Taiwan sales would total five million phones this year, lower than the forecast it issued last year. To spur demand, Panasonic Taiwan will cater to different customers with different models of phones. Moreover, the company plans to roll out mobile phones specifically designed for Taiwan Cellular Corp., Taiwan's largest private cellular service provider, by the end of this year. The company points out that the Taiwan market is getting saturated, and mobile phone manufacturers are changing strategies. It forecasts that beginning next year, mobile phone manufacturers will supply service providers tailor-made products as the model of cooperation between the two sides. Panasonic Taiwan said it will delay until late this year deliveries of GPRS phones, as the global GPRS market is still immature. It originally planned to begin deliveries in the third quarter. (Commercial Times, Taiwan)