ZMax more affordable than the iPhone 6 series.
By Dileep Thekkethil
BANGALORE: The Chinese electronics and telecommunications manufacturer, ZTE, is nearing the tip-off point in reaping success in the US market. ZTE has partnered with T-Mobile to launch ZTE ZMax, a new smartphone with bigger display and premium hardware features.
Like its other Chinese cousins, ZTE has posed “affordable premium” as its motto for the new device. ZMax will reach the US stores at a price of $252 without contract and at $10.50 per month for two years, under T-Mobile payment method.
When compared to the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, ZTE ZMax is a more affordable smartphone offering some power packed multimedia experience for the users. The iPhone 6 is currently priced at $650 contract free and cost $27.08 on monthly payment method.
Senior director of marketing for ZTE USA, Andrew Elliot said that the company has been looking keenly at the growing demand for bigger smartphones in the US. Smartphones that fall in between the size of a phone and tablets popularly known as phablets are becoming the next big thing in the industry. The Samsung Galaxy Note series and the latest Apple iPhone 6 Plus are some of the front runners in the premium phablet section.
The new ZTE ZMax sports a 5.7 inch ‘big’ display powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8926, 1.2GHz Quad-core CPU, an Adreno 305 GPU clocked at 1.2GHz, coupled with 2GB of RAM. ZMax also feature a 34000 mAh long lasting battery. The phone also has an in built memory of 16 GB, expandable using external microSD card. The phone runs on the latest Android KitKat 4.4.
Jason Young, a marketing executive at T-Mobile while talking to CNET said “ZTE’s ZMax combines the latest technology with distinctive design to give our customers an incredibly affordable large-screen smartphone.”
ZTE has been doing business in the US for quite a while partnering with service providers like Boost Mobile who offer prepaid mobile connections for customers.
But this time ZTE is planning something big for its biggest smartphone ever. The company is one of the key sponsors of the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets and is planning for rigorous promotional campaigns ahead of the launch of ZTE ZMax smartphones.
One thing that ZTE won’t do immediately in the US market is to invest heavily. This was the success mantra of its Korean counterpart in selling Samsung Galaxy S series of smartphones. ZTE plans to build a product friendly atmosphere by giving emphasis to the needs of the US customers.
Lixin Cheng, CEO of ZTE’s US unit, said during a press conference on Tuesday that “putting devices with the ZTE logo in your consumers’ hands is the No. 1 way to build your brand.”
According to technology research firm Gartner, ZTE is now the fifth largest OEM in the world with a market share of 3.3 percent. The growth speed of ZTE is way below other companies who are in the top five positions, but since the last one year, ZTE has been making cheaper and affordable smartphones, giving a boot to its global sales.