Asustek introduced a lineup of three handset models including the P505 Microsoft-based PDA phone, the M303 equipped with a 1.3-megapixel camera and the V55 with a built-in VGA camera.

In addition to Taiwan, Asustek is aggressively strengthening its own-brand market presence in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia for 2005, the company said. With more than 10 handset models scheduled for launch this year, the company projects its own-brand handset shipments to top one million units, up from 70,000-80,000 units in 2004. Amid the shipment projection, Asustek aims to sell 300,000 own-brand phones in Taiwan this year, the company noted.

Handset shipments in the second half may account for 70% of Asustek?s full-year shipment projection, according to company sources. The company is expected to enter mass production of its third-generation (3G) models, the U200 and U300 that will also be showcased at CeBIT 2005, in the third quarter, said the sources. In addition, Asustek plans to extend its market presence to the European handset market in the latter half, the sources mentioned. The company?s handset division, which consists of the ODM segment and own-brand, will contribute 10% of its 2005 revenues with NT$200-300 million, the sources indicated.

Sources indicated that Asustek has reached an agreement with UK-based mobile operator Vodafone for marketing the P505 PDA phone in Europe starting from the second quarter of this year. Asustek declined to comment on the report, citing customers? confidentiality.

In related news, Gigabyte Communications, a subsidiary of motherboard maker Gigabyte Technology, will highlight two own-brand handset models at CeBIT in Hannover this year. Gigabyte is seeking regional telecom carriers for marketing the models that include a PDA phone, according to the company.