Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JGoren who wrote (20023)	3/6/2002 10:44:08 PM
From: quartersawyer	Respond to of 197253

China Unicom Group plans to buy 500,000 CDMA phones.... ...shortage of phones obviously makes no sense as reported by Reuters. More likely that subsidies are planned to spur demand.

To: JGoren who wrote (20023)	3/7/2002 10:26:43 AM
From: Ramsey Su	Respond to of 197253

John, that was interesting news. Based on what I can find, this is the reason. It appears that up to now, unlike the Sprints and the VZs, Unicom does not buy any handsets from manufacturers but rather just let them sell direct to subscribers. So this may be the first time that Unicom will buy handsets and act as reseller. I will use this opportunity to express my opinion on what the hell is happening over there. Bottom line: NOT ENOUGH HANDSETS. There are a few reasons. 1) the handset manufacturers did not anticipate the completion speed of the network. This is of course very short sighted because all the infra vendors are seasoned vets of IS95 networks. So while Unicom was shooting for Jan, the handset manufacturers were shooting for March. 2) the UIM card must had been a problem at some time. It is inconceivable that the Chinese manufacturers with foreign backing cannot make a simple IS95 handset with proven MSM3100 chipsets. 3) many of the manufacturers are choosing the cautious approach, unwilling to put all the chips in that one basket. With 1X decision in the immediate future, there is no hurry to be the first to market with potentially an immediately obsolete product line. 4) a few of the manufacturers should never have been approved. They lack the know-how and the capital to get into the highly competitive handset game. 5) the A shares approval news is very significant. This is a committment that is not easily reversible. Don't forget Unicom has no GSM 3G WCDMA migration path at this time. This could be the catalyst that get the handset manufacturers motivated. Ironically, the single foreign manufacturer, MOT, could be a huge benefactor. In conclusion, I do not buy any of the BS about CDMA demand being below expectations, bad quality or no sub rumours. You may want to ask how long it will take Unicom to get going? My opinion is a month or two. <ggg> private joke here. Ramsey