Microsoft, MediaTek ally for affordable, multimedia-rich smartphones

HSINCHU, TAIWAN: Microsoft Corp. and MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, have announced a strategic partnership to provide a multimedia-rich smart phone solution primarily aimed at emerging markets.

As a result of this deal, consumers will be able to buy a wide range of feature-rich Windows phones with the best cost-performance ratio in the market.

While smartphones have long been gaining traction in developed countries, a number of analysts predict that the best years of growth are still to come from emerging markets. With its long-standing cooperation with handset makers and market experience, MediaTek expects this partnership with Microsoft to drive smartphone penetration in the targeted markets.

Built on the Windows Phone 6 platform, these multimedia-rich smartphones will have full touch capabilities and offer advanced communication features including email and Internet access.

"There is a huge thirst for smartphones in emerging markets. For many people, the phone rather than the PC is the main entry point to the Internet, resulting in a high demand for rich communication devices. In order to meet this demand, we have teamed up with MediaTek to facilitate the provision of affordable smartphones," said Daren Mancini, General Manager for OEM Mobile, Microsoft.

"MediaTek is enabling handset manufacturers to optimize their product offerings to address a larger audience with competitive pricing on our smartphone solutions," said JiChang Hsu, Executive Vice President of MediaTek. "Together with Microsoft and our partner network, we look forward to providing wireless communication solutions that help people enjoy richer mobile and multimedia lives. We believe our products and services will continue to meet people's future needs for entertainment, communication, and information."