Compal to ship TCL handsets in March, sources say

After snatching orders from Eastcom, Compal Electronics landed another handset manufacturing order from a China-based mobile phone vendor, according to sources.The company will reportedly begin supplying the TCL 3188 to TCL Mobile Communication in March and is expected to ship at least 800,000 handsets, and possibly challenge the one-million-unit mark, this quarter. Last quarter Compal shipped 670,000 units.Last September, the company launched its first own-brand GPRS handset in Taiwan, demonstrating its ability in the design and development of high-end mobile phones. Marketed and distributed by Systex, the Palmax-branded, XG5D codenamed handset features a clamshell design and dual screen and supports 4,096 colors.In addition, the company will unveil another fold-up handset. The model, lighter than the XG5D, will sport a dual screen and a Sharp-supplied TFT LCD panel supporting 65,000 colors, sources said. The company plans to use LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) TFT LCD panels from affiliate Toppoly Optoelectronics in the future, sources added.According to one investment firm, Compal is expected to ship 350,000 to 400,000 handsets this month. Company president Ray Chen forecast earlier this month that the company would launch a new color-display handset every two to three months this year.Source: DigTimes