July 5, 2000

Taipei - - Taiwans mobile telephone production, forecasted to be 16.6 million pieces this year, is expected to rise to about 84 million units in 2004 with a production value of 100 billion Taiwan Dollars, the government funded Industrial Technology Research Institute¡¦s Computer & Communications Research Laboratories announced in Taipei.

Taiwans mobile phone production was only 5.5 billion Taiwan Dollars in 1999. Major manufacturers like AcerPeripherals Inc., Dialer & Business Electronics Co. and GVC Corp. are eager to grab sales opportunities in the hectic world market, of which it will reach 8% this year.

About 90% of mobile phones made in Taiwan are exported, the majority of them in GSM standard.

Key components of mobile phones like the radio frequency chip sets are still controlled by Japanese companies such as Toshiba and Fujitsu, but Taiwan manufacturers are beefing up their research and development capabilities to reach more self sufficiency in the future, the CCL said.