Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) has turned to Chinese equipment vendor
Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. for help in the development of its GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) and UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network kit,
Unstrung has learned.
“Motorola is using Huawei’s MSC [Mobile Switching Center] network," reveals Huawei's deputy director of corporate communications, Richard Lee.
Lee also adds the two companies "are doing some joint research on the core network area of UMTS.”
Motorola is no stranger to outsourcing partnerships. Last month the vendor announced a deal with
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), involving certain elements of its CDMA and iDEN core networks (see
Moto Leans On HP).
Motorola is unwilling to divulge details of its partnership with Huawei.
“Motorola uses a variety of industry-respected suppliers to bring best-in-class products together as we build our Motorola-branded components and solutions,” writes spokeswoman Kathi Haas in an email note. “We often don’t discuss those relationships because what is relevant is that the Motorola-branded components and solutions are built to Motorola specifications, tested, integrated, sold, deployed and backed by Motorola and our warranty. Announced relationships, like the HP/Motorola team effort… are the only ones that we discuss publicly.”
Motorola boasts an established list of GSM carrier customers but only a sole UMTS network contract win (see
Moto Hits Euro 3G).
— Justin Springham, Senior Editor, Europe,
Unstrung
