Last week, the vice president of investor relations for NVIDIA, Rob Csongor, spoke of the company’s mobile strategies moving forward through 2013 and beyond. Currently, Samsung and Apple make up exactly 50% of this year’s first quarter mobile sales, so according to Csongor, NVIDIA will look to partner with the “other half” of the market such as HTC, ZTE, Huawei and other lower-placed companies to push its line of mobile processor. 

In doing so, NVIDIA’s upcoming Tegra 4i processor would be seen in direct competition with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 400 chip, a chip that NVIDIA says can be outperformed three to one by the 4i.

The Tegra 4 and 4i were announced earlier this year, but we are still awaiting a flagship device to carry either chip inside. Anyone else hoping to see a device running either one of these before NVIDIA arrives too late for the party?

Via: Fool

Cheers Ben!

NVIDIA to Target Mid-Range “Other Half” of Smartphones Moving Forward is a post from: Droid Life

This morning, Chinese device manufacturer ZTE announced its newest smartphone, the GEEK. It is the first ZTE device powered by Intel’s shiny new 32nm Atom processor, known as the Z2580. It has a few decent specs, such as its 5″ 720p display, a 2,300mAh battery, Android 4.2 “Jelly Bean,” 8GB eMMC+1GBRAM, and an 8MP back shooter. 

The device was debuted at an Intel Developer event, so much of the focus was placed on the processor inside. The 32nm Atom, with a CPU frequency of 2.0GHz, shows that when compared to the company’s previous processor, the new chip is twice as fast for computing and up to three times as fast for graphics. To top it off, it shows less power consumption as well, which is a step in the right direction.

Naturally, given that it is a ZTE phone, you probably won’t find it on any of America’s larger carriers. However, we do admire ZTE’s push to bring more high-end products to the market such as the GEEK.

ZTE Launches the ZTE GEEK with Intel Inside at IDF 2013

First ZTE smartphone powered by Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor

10 April 2013, Shenzhen, China – ZTE (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices, has debuted the ZTE GEEK, the first ZTE smartphone powered by Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor Z2580, at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in Beijing, China.

The ZTE GEEK has a 5-inch HD screen with resolution of up to 1280×720. It runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and has 8GB eMMC+1GBRAM. It also features an 8-megapixel rear camera, 1-megapixel front camera, an LED supplement light, and a 2300mAh large-capacity battery. The phone is powered by the Intel’s new 32nm Atom™ processor Z2580, which has a CPU frequency of 2.0GHZ. Tests show that compared to Intel’s previous processor, the Clover Trail+ processor is twice as fast for computing and three times as fast for graphics. It also reduces power consumption.

“Our recent collaboration with Intel on the ZTE GEEK builds on the success of the Grand Series and further enhances our competitiveness in the high-end smartphone market,” said ZTE EVP and Head of the Mobile Devices Division, Mr. He Shiyou. “This partnership will also improve customer experiences by providing them with more choices in the market.”

This year marks the seventh consecutive year for the IDF in Beijing. It is Intel’s premier event and is a major event for the communications industry. ZTE is also showcasing its V98 tablet and Grand X IN smartphone at the IDF. Both devices use Intel chips.

ZTE has long emphasised the importance of user experiences. A key component of this is its longstanding partnership with Intel. When Intel first entered the mobile microchip field in 2012, ZTE released its first Intel-based smartphone, the Grand X IN, shortly thereafter. This allowed ZTE to become the first company to launch a flagship smartphone powered by an Intel processor in the European market. The Grand X IN later became become the best-selling smartphone in Austria.

Over the past two years, ZTE has stepped up efforts in the smart device arena. The new Intel phone is a significant component of the company’s 2011 strategy to shift toward high-end products.

ZTE Debuts the GEEK – Equipped With New Intel Atom Processor Clocked at 2GHz is a post from: Droid Life

Just minutes ago, NVIDIA and ZTE announced that the first smartphones equipped with the Tegra 4 processor would hit the market sometime before mid-2013. ZTE is a Chinese OEM, which means the device will probably not hit our shores, but it is great news that manufacturers are taking the initial steps in investing in the processor and its capabilities. 

Also, NVIDIA announced that they are working closely with ZTE to release an additional LTE “super phone” using the all-new i500 LTE chipset. As always, no word on if we will see that device come to the U.S. either.

It may not be the OEM we were hoping for, but in reality, the Tegra 4 was only announced last month and even then, it was still technically unfinished. Now that the LTE variant is a go, we will probably see more manufacturers like ASUS, HTC (maybe), and others start hopping on board.

ZTE and NVIDIA Partner To Launch First Tegra 4 Super Phones 

New Devices to Feature 72 Custom GPU Cores, Quad-Core Cortex-A15 CPU, Icera i500 LTE Chipset for High Performance, Power Efficiency, Fast 4G Networking 

20 February 2013, Shenzhen, China – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and mobile devices has announced that it is partnering with NVIDIA to deliver the first super phones powered by the NVIDIA® Tegra® 4 mobile processor, with the first models to reach the market before mid-year.

ZTE has a long-term strategic partnership with NVIDIA and expects to launch the first Tegra 4 super phones in China in the first half of 2013. The Tegra 4 processor was only announced by NVIDIA in January, at the CES 2013 exhibition in Las Vegas.

“This is a clear demonstration of ZTE’s ability to quickly develop, and bring to market, market-leading devices running the industry’s latest technologies,” said Mr. He Shiyou, ZTE EVP and Head of the Terminal Division.

The NVIDIA Tegra 4 will enable the ZTE devices to deliver ultra-fast web browsing, improved app load times, more realistic gaming experiences and great battery life – thanks to the processor’s 72 custom NVIDIA GeForce® cores and quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU. Tegra 4 also enables worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the NVIDIA i500 processor. ZTE and NVIDIA are also planning a new LTE super phone using the i500 LTE chipset for blazing-fast networking.

These new devices build on ZTE and NVIDIA’s success with previous smartphones such as the Grand X, the first smartphone powered by both the Tegra processor and NVIDIA’s Icera modem; the Grand Era super phone with Tegra 3; and the U950, the first premium quad-core smartphone with Tegra 3 priced below $160 USD.

“We’re proud to continue our pioneering partnership with NVIDIA and are looking forward to offering more Tegra-powered devices, which are defining a new generation of phones offering premium mobile computing experiences,” said Mr. He. “Our Tegra 4 smartphones will provide full HD entertainment and multimedia experiences that consumers will love.”

“ZTE’s newest super phones will show off Tegra 4′s processing power, efficiency and unprecedented capabilities,” said Phil Carmack, Senior Vice President of the Mobile business at NVIDIA. “They’re a great example of what the market expects from one of the world’s largest phone makers.”

About ZTE

ZTE is a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while achieving continued revenue growth. ZTE’s 2010 revenue led the industry with a 21% increase to USD10.609 billion. ZTE commits 10 percent of its revenue to research and development and takes a leading role in a wide range of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. A company with sound corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact. ZTE is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer, publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

ZTE Announces Itself As First OEM to be Putting NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 In a Phone is a post from: Droid Life

According to ZTE’s North American business head, the mobile manufacturer is becoming more friendly with American carriers and we may even see their newest flagship device, the Grand S, come to the U.S. After a few meetings this week at CES with carrier executives, who were reportedly impressed with what they saw, ZTE may have to start working on making sure Americans actually know who they are. 

There were no indications of which U.S. carrier would get the device, but it is said, “there was a certain wow factor” when carriers looked over the 2014 concept devices from ZTE. Naturally, none of the press got a look at the concepts, but if someone from Big Red or AT&T were possibly impressed, that has to say something.

We did a hands-on with the Grand S and it is certainly different. There were major UI changes to Android and that constant on-screen back button was a bit interesting. If the Grand S came to one of America’s top four networks, would you want it?

Via: CNET

ZTE Grand S Will Launch on an American Carrier, But Which One? is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

We’re still at CES, attempting to find any news that might be worth your time. The best we could do was the ZTE Grand S LTE, a 5″ 1080p phone that’s headed to China. Yep, it’s another phone that you will never see in the States.

But if you did, it’s not bad. It comes in a variety of colors, including Pink. It’s super thin, has an above-average looking display, is powerful with 2GB of RAM and a Qualcomm processor, and runs one of the most atrocious looking Android skins we have seen in a while. So again, the phone isn’t bad, but it’s also not good.

So, check out the video and plan your next trip to China.

Video: Quick Hands-on With the ZTE’s 1080p Grand S LTE [CES 2013] is a post from: Droid Life

It’s confirmed! 2013 is actually spelled “1080.” At this year’s CES, we are sure to see a ton of devices sporting 1080p displays, but according to the newest leaks, add ZTE’s Grand S to the list as confirmed. Other than its 5″ display and uni-body design, not much else is known about the Grand S beyond its tagline, “the world’s thinnest for 5 inch FHD smartphones.”

Will we ever see it on a US carrier? My money is on it being on a smaller carrier and not making its way to any of the big four. But if it did, would ZTE interest anybody? In terms of brand recognition, I can’t say they have much going here in the U.S.

Via: Engadget

ZTE’s 5″ Grand S Features 1080p Display, Will Be Unveiled at CES is a post from: Droid Life

A U.S. panel known as the House Intelligence Committee (HIC) released a report this morning, recommending that American businesses and the government avoid using products made by Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese tech companies. The report characterizes the two companies as a “national security threat” because of internal documents that were obtained from former Huawei employees that show it supplies services to the People’s Liberation Army. Representatives from the HIC said that they were disappointed by incomplete and contradictory responses during their investigation and that the committee is concerned over the amount of funding to these companies that comes in via the Chinese government. 

Huawei is denying any wrongdoing, saying that they have nothing to hide. In fact, they claim that they tried to work with the HIC for 11 months, but that the committee had a predetermined track that it wanted to follow:

“Unfortunately, the committee’s report not only ignored our proven track record of network security in the United States and globally, but also paid no attention to the large amount of facts that we have provided,” Huawei said in its statement, later adding that, “the report released by the committee today employs many rumors and speculations to prove nonexistent accusations.”

ZTE on the other hand, said that they had not seen the report (which seems odd), and would only offer the following statement:

“[ZTE is] China’s most independent, transparent, globally focused publicly traded company.”

So, if you were planning on picking up one of those ultra-low priced ZTE tablets from your local electronics store or hoping that Huawei (WAH-WAY!) would produce the next Nexus, you may want to turn your focus elsewhere.

Via:  NYTimes

House Intelligence Committee Warns Against Use of Huawei and ZTE Products, Could be Used by China to Spy on U.S. is a post from: Droid Life

Chinese manufacturer ZTE showed off their latest 7-inch tablet, the ZTE T98 at the CES (China International Exhibition Center) expo in Beijing. The T98 features Android 3.2 Honeycomb and the new NVIDIA Tegra 3 (Quad-core) chipset clocked at 1.5GHz, being the first tablet to do so. The tablet also sports 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a front (2MP) and rear camera (5MP) that can shoot 1080p HD video and with an extremely small 4000mAh battery.

Oddly enough, the T98 comes with 3G GSM radios and does not include 4G of any sort, nor does it contain an NFC chip. The benchmarks are also extremely lackluster when you consider the specs, lets just assume that it is because the software has not yet been optimized for quad-core devices. At this time there is no information regarding availability or pricing. 

Via: PocketDroid

ZTE T98 Tablet Shows Off Its Next-Gen NVIDIA Tegra 3 Processor is a post from: Droid Life