Panasonic to punt smartphones in Europe
Blower up the business
Panasonic is drawing up plans to launch mobile phones in Europe.
The company has allegedly held talks with a major European telco and aims to release handsets over here as early as spring 2012, Japanese business paper Nikkei reports by way of Reuters.
If the move to Europe goes without a hitch, the company will attempt to expand into North America too, with an aim to expand phone sales from 4.4m handsets last year to 7.5m by 2015.
Panasonic currently offers heaps of handsets in Japan and takes the concept of cameraphones to whole new levels with its Lumix range of Android blowers.
As it stands, it's unclear whether or not the company will develop all-new models for the Western market, although it would be a bit risky to try and flog Japanese-style phones over here. Have you seen how different they can be?
If reports are to be believed, we'll find out more at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next January. ®
COMMENTS
RE-launch, shurely?
OK, so it's only nearly a decade since we had Panasonic GSM phones in the UK (somebody check GSMArena) but they actually weren't bad for the time.
They Should Make Android Audio Docking Stations Instead
Its great Panasonic is also joining the android army which is packed full of competition. If they are really looking to make money they should join Phillips and Bose and make Android Audio docking stations. There's very few in the market at the moment.
http://www.gadgetrophy.com/2011/11/popular-smart-phone-docking-stations.html
good old Panasonic
My first 3 GSM 'phones were panasonic:
G520 http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0002DENHQ.02.MZZZZZZZ.jpg
GD93 http://kursk.me/uploads/images/74/9b98ae3f22.jpg
(One of the lightest handsets ever and a nifty recorder utility for custom ringtones ) and
GD87 http://www.unlockadvantage.com/images/products/Panasonic-GD87-GU87.jpg
My first 2G picture messenger phone which i used as a "modem" for my Handspring Visor.
The 93 & 87 had e-mail & wap.
Quality products & i had no problem selling them on!
They are already selling non-smartphones in the UK
The KX-TU301 is already on sale here:
http://www.fussfreephones.com/products-page/phones/panasonic-kx-tu301-2/
