NEC launches world's thinnest foldaway phones

Reuters.com | Wed Sep 21, 2005 11:59 AM ET163

TOKYO (Reuters) - NEC Corp. (6701.T: Quote, Profile, Research) has launched the world's thinnest foldaway mobile phone in Hong Kong in a bid to underscore its technological prowess, the Japanese electronics conglomerate said on Wednesday.

The new cell phone, which is 11.9 mm thick when folded and slimmer than an AA battery, is equipped with a 1.3-megapixel digital camera, 1.9-inch color display and music player function, the Tokyo-based company said.

Following the Hong Kong launch in mid-September, NEC plans to offer the mobile phone soon in Italy, Australia, Russia and China.

NEC declined to comment on expected retail prices or sales targets for the new phone, which works on GSM/GPRS networks, widely used in Europe and Asia.

NEC, a pioneer of high-speed third-generation phones, is the largest cell phone supplier in Japan's domestic market with a 16.2 percent share in the first half of 2005, according to research firm Gartner.

But it holds only a small percentage of the global market, lagging far behind overseas giants such as Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) and Motorola Inc. (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

Shares in NEC closed up 0.97 percent at 623 yen, outperforming the Tokyo stock market's electric machinery index (.IELEC.T: Quote, Profile, Research), which gained 0.53 percent.

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