Motorola is looking to introduce eight to ten smartphones, accounting for about 25-30% of the vendor?s total handset models to be launched worldwide this year, according to Motorola Taiwan.

Of the smartphone models, Linux-based devices are expected to perform well for the vendor in the smartphone market, said the division.

Buoyed by good sales of the E680, A768i and A780 models, Motorola?s smartphone sales currently exceed 10% of its total sales in China, Motorola Taiwan cited.

Although Motorola sold its stake in Symbian in 2003, the vendor is constantly developing Symbian-based smartphones, Motorola Taiwan stated. The A1000 third-generation (3G) phone, which features the Symbian 7.0 OS, is expected to be available in Taiwan when domestic 3G service rolls out, the division added. In addition, Motorola?s new Microsoft Windows-based smartphone, which is produced in-house, will be introduced to the market in the second half of this year, Motorola Taiwan noted.

Smartphone demand worldwide is projected to expand from 23 million units in 2004 to 50 million this year, thanks to more ?value-added? image and voice application services being embedded in wireless handheld devices, according to Motorola Taiwan.

From Betanews