TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Asustek (華碩電腦) today volition launch a trio of the Intel-powered ZenFone 4-6 inwards Taipei, although the target marketplace volition hold upward PRC together with the straight contender volition hold upward mainland-based rise smartphone star Xiaomi Technology.
According to local reports, high-ranking executives of Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信), Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大) together with Far EasTone (遠傳) volition seem at the production launch for ZenFones, showing back upward for the personal reckoner maker.Pricing for the local marketplace has nevertheless non been revealed.
Unveiled inwards Jan at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) inwards Las Vegas, Asustek's 3 novel ZenFone models commencement at but US$99 together with come upward inwards concealment sizes of 4-6 inches to target mainstream buyers.
The Zenfone iv was announced at US$99 for a 4-inch display together with an Intel Atom Z2520 1.2GHz dual-core processor, piece the ZenFone v volition instruct for US$149 for its 5-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 1280x720, a dual-core processor together with an 8-megapixel camera.
The relatively higher-end ZenFone six starts at US$199 together with sports an advanced 6-inch impact concealment together with 13-megapixel camera, the companionship announced.
Despite the affordable cost of its novel models, smartphones await probable to rest a drag on Asustek's concern this twelvemonth every bit the PC vendor struggles to attain its break-even shipment scale of v i yard one thousand units alongside tearing competition, according to a recent written report yesteryear CLSA Ltd.
The Hong Kong-based brokerage forecast Asustek volition send 3 i yard one thousand smartphones inwards 2014 with lingering losses together with an operating margin of minus vii percent. It gave the stock an “outperform” rating together with laid upward a cost target of NT$324.
By Kathryn Chiu, The PRC Post
April 8, 2014, 12:15 am TWN
