18th January 2006 - BenQ Mobile, the new business group
of BenQ Corporation, today unveiled its new consumer brand
BenQ-Siemens to a global audience and set out a 2006 strategy
for asserting its position in the mobile handset industry.
Forged from a dynamic and complementary partnership between
the former Siemens handset business and the Asian consumer
electronics group BenQ, the new company will focus on
expanding its product portfolio in the 3G arena and using
the multimedia strengths of BenQ to create a clearly differentiated
product proposition. With an objective to achieve a financially
stable business by the end of 2006, BenQ Mobile has adopted
two key principles to drive its business forward, focus
and simplicity: focus on consumers & market proximity
and simplicity across all operating structures to maximize
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Commencing operation on October 1, 2005 and headquartered
in Munich, the BenQ-Siemens collaboration combines the best
of German engineering quality and experience of the telecommunication
sector gained over 150 years, with the lifestyle design expertise
and speed to market of relative newcomer BenQ. The partnership
benefits from the companies' respective expertise in R&D,
design, customer reach and manufacturing and, most importantly,
unites the cultural strengths of each company, under a 'winning
culture' philosophy. Together BenQ Mobile is a unique and
competitive manufacturer that will innovate and lead the speeding
development of mobile technology and digital convergence,
taking advantage of an increasingly Asia-centered mobile devices
business.
Jerry Wang, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing
Officer of BenQ Corporation commented, "We have now successfully
united the two companies at an operation level and today marks
the start of the next phase in our development - to engage
consumers worldwide with the spirit and energy of our combined
BenQ-Siemens brand. I believe we have the focus, resources
and passion to invigorate the market in 2006, especially in
3G and that our strategy will lead to a sustainable and successful
handset business that commands a significant share of the
market."
Supporting the repositioning of the company, BenQ Mobile
has adopted an aggressive branding strategy and is committed
to building a powerful, global consumer brand. Rooted in the
theme of exploration, the BenQ-Siemens brand reflects both
sides of the company in balance. Visually this is shown in
the "squound" shape between the words 'BenQ' and
'Siemens'; the union of a square (representing rational thinking)
and round (representing emotional touch), and by the colour
purple, which fuses the emotional colour red with rational
blue. Beyond graphics the spirit of the new brand will engage
consumers that share BenQ-Siemens curiosity and excitement
about the possibilities of mobile technology.
Clemens Joos, CEO BenQ Mobile said "We want to excite
consumers that share our belief in creativity and ability
of technology to enrich everyday communication. The new BenQ-Siemens
brand embodies this attitude and during 2006 we will be challenging
expectations - not only in the products we launch but also
in the way we communicate. We have a hugely passionate and
experienced team driving this new company and we will build
on the existing equity in both brands across the world, to
move forward with confidence."
Additionally, to mark the launch of BenQ-Siemens, the company
unveiled today the first three products to carry the new joint
brand name - EF81, S68 and S88. All feature slim design and
premium metallic finishing but it is the EF81 in particular
that provides an indication of the future roadmap: miniaturization
of high speed UMTS technology in an ultra thin magnesium clamshell
design. BenQ-Siemens has committed that at least a third of
its products launched in 2006 will be 3G and that there will
be a significant focus on multimedia; every three out of four
products featuring a music player or FM radio and every second
phone offering a minimum 1.3 mega pixel camera. From a design
perspective BenQ-Siemens will create elegant yet surprising
devices that build on the respective expertise of the two
companies. BenQ is renowned for its award-wining design, scooping
115 international design awards in less than four years years
(2002-06) and Siemens has always had a reputation for ingenuity,
introducing both the first slider and mp3-phone.
BenQ Mobile moves into 2006 with the aim to improve its bottom
line quarter-on-quarter and achieve financially stable business
by the end of the year. The company is already seeing the
results of its first 100 days of operation under an invigorated
leadership team. It has achieved a reduction of operational
losses (Q3oQ4 in CY05). Operators have reacted positively
to the new roadmap, which features a high number of 3G and
multimedia rich products, and many flagship handsets are now
confirmed to be listed across key regions. The new BenQ-Siemens
brand launched today lies at the heart of the company's aggressive
business strategy and is underpinned by a competitive strategy,
philosophy and product roadmap for a successful and sustainable
future.
About BenQ Mobile
BenQ Mobile is an industry leader in wireless communication
devices with a high lifestyle appeal. Headquartered in Munich
(Germany), the company is one of three business divisions
of BenQ Corporation and a trademark licensee of Siemens AG.
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