In addition to having handsets from leading handset makers in their portfolios, operators are looking for opportunities to forge partnerships with manufacturers, who are also more willing to accept operators’ customization and branding needs.
According to ABI Research, mobile operators will make approximately $10.7 billion worldwide through the sales of private branded handsets in 2007, almost 23% more than the $8.7 billion earned in 2006. Furthermore, analysts at ABI Research expect to see operator-branded handsets growing to over 127 million handset shipments by 2011.
A number of factors including handset delivery delays, greater customization needs, increasing demand for low cost handsets, and the growing importance of emerging markets are prompting operators to choose private branded handsets.