Bye bye Siemens, Hello BenQ

Category: BenQ Mobile
By: AK

BenQ Mobile, the new business group of BenQ Corporation entirely dedicated to wireless communications, will start its operations today. Following BenQ’s announcement to acquire the Siemens Mobile Devices Division in June, the new company will start its operations according to the initial plan, on October 1, 2005 . With a combined estimated global market share of 5.2% and a number six position in the international mobile manufacturers ranking, the new company is aiming to become one of the leading players in mobile products. (based on half year 2005 figures, source: Gartner Dataquest ).

 

Clemens J. Joos will be Chief Executive Officer of BenQ Mobile. Jerry Wang, Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer of BenQ Corp., will assume responsibility as Chairman for BenQ Mobile. "We are happy with this partnership which combines the strengths of our two organizations allowing us to benefit from each other and making the best of both,” said Clemens Joos, CEO of BenQ Mobil e. "We have over 7,000 committed employees who are very much looking forward to creating a great company and to launching elegant yet exciting products in the coming year."

 

“The synergies created by this partnership, and the eagerness shown by employees on both sides, make us look to the future with great pride and confidence,” said K.Y. Lee, Chairman of BenQ Corporation.

 

Established in 2005, BenQ Mobile creates value for its customers bearing strong consumer focus in mind and the needs and desire of consumers around the glob e. The company's headquarter is based in Munich, and has over 7,000 employees worldwide working on research and development, design, sales, marketing, supply chain and customer services.

 

Through this acquisition, BenQ is able to combine its strong heritage in the consumer electronics business as a leading and rapidly growing manufacturer of networked digital lifestyle products, such as LCD TVs, displays, mp3 players, digital cameras, projectors, and optical storage, with Siemens’ technological expertise in mobile devices. Siemens has built an excellent reputation in the market for its industrial design, product quality and the ability to customize phones to operator requirements. Its leading position in key European and emerging Latin American markets complements BenQ’s particular strength in the Asian markets in establishing BenQ Mobile as a truly global brand. This partnership will thus strengthen BenQ’s position as a leading innovator in the 3Cs – communications, consumer electronics and computing – driving the integration further and delivers solutions demanded by the new digital era.

 

Through a licensing agreement, BenQ Mobile is allowed to utilize the Siemens brand for 18 months as well as a combined brand for a transition period of up to five years starting today October 1st. Until 2006 both brands will coexist. The new combined brand will be introduced in spring 2006.

 

 

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.

 

With revenues of more than 5.6 billion Euros in 2004*, over 7000 employees worldwide, its state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facilities in Aalborg (Denmark), Beijing, Suzhou (China), Kamp-Lintfort, Munich, Ulm (Germany), Manaus (Brazil), Mexicali (Mexico), Taipei (Taiwan), and Wroclaw (Poland), and a strong sales, marketing and service network, BenQ Mobile benefits from its global footprint. BenQ Mobile will leverage complementary competencies and resources in product creation, developing elegant yet exciting devices that enable consumers to further explore mobility.

 

*combined revenues of BenQ Mobile Phones and Siemens Mobile Devices in 2004