Cherry Mobile enters RP handset market

MANILA, Philippines – Cherry Mobile, a new player in the local mobile communications industry, is set to capitalize on the growing market need for multi-network-capable mobile phones with its new line of NTC-approved, dual-SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) handsets.

The demand for true dual-SIM phones has been steadily rising as prices of SIM cards from different mobile service providers have become lower and lower.

And with impressive feature sets and prices below P6,000, the new Cherry Mobile phones, which are made in China and distributed locally by Cosmic Technologies Inc., are expected to make a big impact on the local mobile communications industry.

Comprising four handsets, the new range from Cherry Mobile is designed to meet a wide range of needs and uses. The phones will allow users to simultaneously use and manage two separate prepaid or postpaid subscriptions.

“As mobile technology becomes more and more sophisticated, users demand so much more from their cellular phones,” said Maynard Ngu, chief executive officer of Cherry Mobile.

“It is not uncommon these days for a single user to have multiple SIM cards from various networks or to have two or more active phones,” he added.

The D20 Life model is Cherry Mobile’s entry-level dual-SIM handset. The P2,990 phone is packed with the basic mobile phone features that consumers need in an entry-level phone and more — dual active SIM/dual standby-capable, VGA camera, 1.8-inch 65K-color TFT LCD, an MP3/MP4 player, FM radio, voice recorder, memory card slot for Micro SD card of up to 2GB, and Bluetooth.

Even cheaper than the D20 Life but without the dual-SIM feature is the P2,690 glossy bodied S11 Blade. Its surprisingly lengthy list of features includes a VGA camera, a 1.8-inch 65K-color TFT LCD, a pitch changer, an MP3/MP4 player, FM radio, GPRS/MMS capabilities, a Micro SD card slot that can accommodate up to a 2GB memory card, and Bluetooth.

The P3,690 D50 Inertia, meanwhile, is the “Motion in Action” handset of Cherry Mobile. With its rugged construction and sporty design, it caters to the active user who loves sports and the outdoors.

The D50 Inertia is dual active SIM/dual standby-capable and packs a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3/MP4 playback, FM radio, built-in motion sensor, Bluetooth connectivity, a Micro SD card for up to 2GB of extra memory, and GPRS.

The P5,690 M35 Integra is Cherry Mobile’s “Entertainment anytime, anywhere” phone. The handset, which sports a classic metallic design, boasts an impressive array of multimedia features such as free-to-air-TV tuner, TV function, dual active SIM/dual standby, a two-megapixel camera, a large 2.2-inch QVGA TFT LCD, dual cameras, MP3/MP4 playback, FM radio, a motion sensor, a Micro SD card expandable to 2GB, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPRS.

“With today’s economic climate, we feel that this is the perfect time to release our dual-SIM devices. Consumers, even in trying times, demand nothing less from the products they buy,” said Roger Chiu, president of Cherry Mobile.

“We bring incredible functionality at a price that just can’t be beaten in the local market,” he added.