China Mobile, HTC extend cooperation to 4G tech

BEIJING, CHINA: China Mobile, the world's largest carrier by subscribers, said on Monday it would extend its cooperation with Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp to new-generation 4G mobile technology.

China Mobile vice president Huang Wenlin made the comment at a business conference in Taiwan, but did not give other details. The two companies cooperate in 3G technology now.

HTC is set to launch its first 4G models next year, with shipment expected to be to Verizon Communications, Taiwan's Economic Daily News said on Monday.

Around noon, China Mobile shares rose 0.5 percent in Hong Kong, lagging the Hang Seng Index's .HSI 1.3 percent gain. In Taiwan, HTC shares gained 0.4 percent, versus the main TAIEX's .TWII 0.5 percent jump.

Earlier this month, telecoms equipment maker Alcatel Lucent said some telecoms carriers in China and India could put out bids for the building of 4G trial networks as early as year-end, as they rush to upgrade existing networks or get into the wireless business.

China Mobile has been letting some of the world's top equipment sellers, including the French-U.S. firm, show off their 4G capabilities at the Shanghai Expo that began in May and runs through the end of October.

A number of carriers lookin at 4G are seriously considering TD-LTE, one of several variants of 4G being developed and promoted by China Mobile.