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“When Russian rich people shop for new cell phones, they choose either Samsung cell phones or Ubiquam’s. We are second to none in CDMA 450MHz market such as Russia, Vietnam and other CDMA potential markets.” said Eun Jong Kim, a CEO of Ubiquam Co.Ltd. The company is specialized in CDMA 450MHz handset maker. On the benefit of low frequency spectrum, providing wider communication coverage with less number of mobile stations than 800MHz range and above, it has been settled as standard spectrum for mobile communications in large territory country with sparse population.
By the time Eun jong Kim established the company in 2002 opened to news that Qualcomm started low frequency CDMA business in Rumania, he had worked as sales representative at Hyundai Electronics.
Since the low frequency is limited to use for military affairs and the high frequency transmitters are set up all around the country, low frequency is no use for mobile service in Korea. However, 450MHz bandwidth is demeaned among undeveloped countries since mobile service charge is 30% cheaper and sometimes it is chosen subsidiary phone in those countries.
To market 450MHz CDMA handsets it should have differentiated technology especially on controlling the diffusion of heat and strengthening the antenna.
The market observers estimated that 450MHz CDMA market volume would be 1 million units last year, which is not big enough for top mobile vendors such as Samsung, LG to touch but it reaches a total of 3.5 million units this year.
By the time Ubiquam started inroad into global market in 2003 with its own brand for CDMA 450MHz, they were funded by U.S and Japan companies to develop the handsets product as a research center.
Ubiquam recorded 14.2billion won in sales last year and anticipated to achieve 35 billion won this year.
They have consolidated their position as premium brand in the Russian mobile handset market retails at US$500 against two major global competitors, Curitel and China Huawei. Having commanded more than 50% market share in the Russian CDMA 450 handset market, Ubiquam handset brand is emerging in Czechoslovakia, Indonesia and South America as well.
Recently Ubiquam collaborated with EVNTelcom (under Vietnam Electric Power Corporation) for appliance based on CDMA2000 1 X and EVDO and will start legitimate service from January, 2006 in Vietnam.
“Although there are 6 Million GSM subscribers in Vietnam, CDMA phone network market is growing to enjoy multimedia functions” Eun Jong Kim said, “Vietnam government has set up infrastructure need to provide CDMA 450 MHz service for set the target of 3 million customer base.”
“We accelerate our efforts in strengthening our technology competitiveness on top of global network we have established so far.” |
