Microsoft Smartphones heading for China

Microsoft has completed a significant deal in China which will see its Pocket PC software used in the devices of one of the country's leading mobile handset manufacturers.

Microsoft and TCL Mobile signed an agreement yesterday which will see TCL develop its next generation OMIT (open multimedia information terminal) devices on Microsoft's Windows Powered Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition and Smartphone 2002 platforms.

Wan Mingjian, president of TCL Mobile, said in a statement: "Wireless data is the direction next generation communications is taking. We believe that mobile devices with only voice functionality will end up in the same category that pagers are in today.

"We believe OMIT devices represent the future of the mobile market and our goal is to provide the best, most available wireless experience to our customers."

According to CCID Consulting, the number of mobile phone users in China leapt 71.3 per cent in 2001 to 144.8 million, accounting for 44.13 per cent of the total phone market.

It is anticipated that by 2005 this number will grow to over 252 million mobile phone users.