Solid Group ventures into mobile phone distribution

Listed firm Solid Group, Inc. said its strategic property development and technology products and services would be the main drivers of its growth this year. In an interview with BusinessWorld , President and Chief Executive Officer David S. Lim said the company will be launching six mobile phones — called myphone — within the year.

"We are set to introduce a selection of mobile phones that will provide not only their regular voice services but also significant new technology services including MP3 (moving picture experts group 3), MPEG4, WIFI, global positioning system, and general packet radio access. They are not just communication tools but full personal entertainment devices," he said. Mr. Lim said the technology of the mobile phones will come from Amoi/Solid Corp., one of the largest brand manufaturers in China . Solid Group founding Chairman Joseph Lim was one of Amoi/Solid Corp.'s founders.

The first three mobile phones to be introduced this month are the T11, T22 Duo, and T33. The other three phones will be launched by November. The three mobile phones that are about to be introduced have touch screens. T1 has a 2.8-inch touch screen, 1.3 megapixel camera, MP3/MP4 player, web camera, video recorder and micro secure digital/transflash card slot. It will be sold for P6,000 to P7,000.

Designed by Momo Italy , T33 is a mobile 5.0 PocketPC that has Microsoft Office applications. It boasts of a 2.8-inch touch screen that can recognize the owner's handwriting. It has a two-gigabyte memory, universal serial bus and bluetooth connectivity, built-in MP3 player, and 2 megapixel video recorder. It has a suggested retail price of less than P20,000.T22 Duo, meanwhile, is the first mobile phone to deliver dual sim both active for voice call and text messaging certified by the National Telecommunications Commission. Its suggested retail price is less than P10,000.Mr. Lim said the idea of venturing into the mobile phones business was a ride on the growing demand of mobile phones, adding that it "will support a sustainable growth for a continuous line of future products that will build our nationwide distribution business."

Market statistics show that 45 million Filipinos own and use mobile phones. "We aim to come out with 5,000 units of these phones per month so projected revenues could reach P600 million in one year," Mr. Lim said.

Mr. Lim also said the company was planning to expand its voice over the Internet (VOIP) services, but it still has to look partners. "We have acquired our own VOIP license to operate VOIP services but will continue to seek strong partners whose technology and capabilities will provide greater service value to our customers," he said.

BusinessWorld: August 9, 2007 (Lovely Nica P. Lee)