CDMA Driving Handset Affordability in India

Yankee Group Report Analyzes Very Low-Cost Handsets Within the Region and Finds Imported CDMA Handsets are Driving Indian Cellular Market


ADVISORY, June 3, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --


 WHAT:     The CDMA Development Group (CDG) announced the release of a
           new Yankee Group report titled "CDMA Imports Driving Very
           Low-Cost Handsets in India: Price Trending Analysis for
           2007."  This report marks the end of a series of releases
           by the Yankee Group focused on imported very low-cost
           handsets (defined as sub-US$50) in the Indian market
           throughout the calendar year 2007.

           Findings of the report include:
           * 62% of all imported handsets sold in India are sub-US$50,
             with CDMA handsets dominating this category at 73% of the
             total.
           * 94% of all CDMA imports during 2007 were sub-US$50.
           * The average selling price (ASP) of India's entire CDMA
             handset portfolio is 67% lower than the GSM market
             average.
           * 49% (around 50 million units) of the total handset market
             volume is imported into India.
           * The average wholesale price difference between India's
             GSM and CDMA imported device volumes increased to US$72
             in 2007 -- a difference that grew by $12 in favor of CDMA
             since 2006.
           * More than 90 very low-cost CDMA models from 19 vendors
             are available on a global basis.

           The CDG believes that the report's findings are positive;
           very low-cost CDMA2000(r) handsets are increasing telephony
           and Internet penetration in India.  The report also
           confirms that handset affordability and vendor diversity
           are becoming hallmarks of CDMA.  CDMA2000 handsets are well
           positioned to remain critical drivers of teledensity and
           Internet penetration in India, as well as in other emerging
           markets.

 WHO:      The CDMA Development Group is a trade association formed to
           foster the worldwide development, implementation and use of
           CDMA2000 technologies. The more than 130 member companies
           of the CDG include many of the world's largest wireless
           carriers and equipment manufacturers. The primary
           activities of the CDG include development of CDMA2000
           features and services, public relations, education and
           seminars, regulatory affairs and international support.
           Currently, there are more than 500 individuals working
           within various CDG subcommittees on CDMA2000-related
           matters.

 WHERE:    The report can be downloaded from the CDG Web site at

http://www.cdg.org/technology/3g/resource/yankeegrp_ultralowhandsets.asp.


 PRESS INQUIRIES:    Please contact the CDG News Bureau at
                     +1-714-540-1030 or cdg@bockpr.com.

The CDG logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2911



            

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