Huawei becomes second Chinese handset maker for MetroPCS

Earlier this month, MetroPCS announced a partnership with ZTE USA, subsidiary of phone and network vendor ZTE Corp. of China, to provide them with handsets. Metro has taken yet another leap into the Chinese handset market, signing a deal with Huawei Technologies to make their M318 handset available to the roughly 3.7 million customers of the flat-rate, unlimited carrier. So while rival Leap is busy expanding its network, Metro is working on bring a whole new line of phones to its arsenal. According to RCR News, this helps accomplish goals for both companies. For Huawei, it means becoming established in the U.S. market, which is more lucrative than their native Chinese market. There are press and brand-building opportunities in America that just aren’t available in China, allowing Huawei to grow. For MetroPCS, it means purchasing lower-cost handsets, thereby (hopefully) passing along cheaper handsets to customers. Because they are a prepaid service, Metro doesn’t offer much of a discount, if any, off the suggested retail price for phones. There is also an opportunity for Metro to self-brand the phones, which will extend their brand. So it’s win-win-win. Huawei gets to expand its sources of revenue, Metro gets a different brand of handset, and customers get more, and hopefully cheaper, options when purchasing a cell phone. No price or release date has been announced. [RCR Wireless News]]]>