Asustek Computer Inc aims to triple its worldwide smartphone shipments to 25 million units this year, as it plans to launch new models in more overseas markets, such as the US, company chairman Jonney Shih (施崇棠) said yesterday.
“This year, Asustek will join the world’s [smartphone] major league. The company plans to sell its smartphones to about 20 markets this year, from 14 last year,” Shih said on the sidelines of an Asustek ZenFone 2 series product launch event.
The firm plans to launch the new 5.5-inch ZenFone 2 series to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and France this month, Asustek chief financial officer David Chang (張偉明) said.
Photo: CNA
The new ZenFone 2 series is then scheduled to hit the stores in the US, Italy and a number of Southeast Asian nations next month. Asustek added that the ZenFone 2 would go on sale in Japan next month, or in May.
The new smartphone series will be launched in Brazil in June, the company said.
The company shipped 10,000 smartphones in April last year and monthly shipments for the fourth quarter reached 1.5 million units, Shih said, adding that the company is optimistic about its smartphone sales outlook.
Asustek’s global smartphone shipments topped 8.5 million last year, Shih said.
Citing market researcher International Data Corp, Shih said the ZenFone 1 series outperformed its peers to lead the market share in Taiwan in the third quarter last year, and he expects Asustek to secure first spot in the home market this year, driven by the launch of its new ZenFone 2 series.
Asustek launched three ZenFone 2 products in Taiwan, each with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. The products are powered by an Intel Atom processor with E connectivity, Asustek said.
Chang said apart from the ZenFone 2 series, that the company plans to launch a mid-tier model ZenFone Zoom next quarter and ZenFone Selfie in the second half of the year in a bid to boost its smartphone sales.
Asustek expects to ship 3 million smartphone units this quarter and 4 million next quarter, Chang said.
Chang said the company expects smartphone shipments, for the ZenFone series and PadFone series, to jump in the second half of this year, with shipments reaching 2 million units per month in the third quarter.
“We foresee smartphone shipments to be more than 15 million in the second half of this year,” Chang said.
Asustek chief executive officer Jerry Shen (沈振來) last month told investors that the company is optimistic that its smartphone business would turn profitable this year.
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