- Beijing-based fabless chipmaker Vimicro recently announced that the company has formed a strategic alliance with Chinese mobile operator CSMBC (China Satellite Mobile Broadcasting Corporation) - a wholly-owned subsidiary of China' SAFRT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television) - whereby they will join hands to develop new technologies and services based on China's homegrown mobile TV standard, CMMB (China Mobile Multimedia Broadcasting), in China according to a press release by Vimicro on November 9. Pursuant to the agreement, Vimicro will provide highly reliable and integrated CMMB chipsets, while CSMBC will deliver related support and assistance, including the testing and certification of CMMB phones. The Vimicro-CSMBC cooperation is expected to enhance users' experience in accessing mobile TV services by means of CMMB-enabled TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) mobile devices, including mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistances), netbook PCs, and Smartphones.

 

- Shanghai Mobile, a subsidiary of China Mobile in Shanghai, and consumer appliance retailer Suning jointly announced on November 11 that they plan to enter into a strategic alliance in 2010. Through the alliance, these two companies will collaborate to drive 3G sales and expand consumer demand for 3G terminals, netbook PCs, and TD-SCDMA services. Shanghai Mobile plans to open a 3C flagship experience center inside Suning's flagship store. Under the agreement, Shanghai Mobile will give Suning the highest priority to participate in any activity or promotion held by Shanghai Mobile, while Suning will release large-scale purchase orders to Shanghai Mobile in the future. Meanwhile, these two companies also announced that they will trial run an old-for-new mobile phone subsidy program in Shanghai, offering consumers up to 10% subsidies for trading in old mobile phones for new ones, according to the same source.