IRVING, Texas-Since it was unable to score a distribution deal with Cingular Wireless and other GSM carriers, NEC America Inc. plans to sell its new GSM/EDGE clamshell-style 232E mobile phone through its Web site. NEC made a splash last year when it re-entered the U.S. wireless market with its clamshell-style 515 phone selling through AT&T Wireless.
Scott Spreen, assistant general manager for NEC’s wireless engineering division, said the company was unable to score a distribution deal with Cingular following its acquisition of AT&T Wireless. AT&T Wireless was NEC’s sole U.S. carrier partner.
Left without a carrier partner, NEC instead plans to sell the device through its own nechdm.com Web site. The phone is packaged with exercise software from Fitness magazine, and will be available for $50. Spreen said NEC is offering a $200 discount on the phone. The phone, which features an integrated digital camera, will be available with Cingular service.
NEC joins other handset vendors like Panasonic and Innostream in offering phones through Web sites and other alternative channels. Even vendors like Nokia Corp. and Siemens have sold select devices through the Internet when carriers decline to pick the devices up.
“We’re ensuring sales by creating these alternate distribution channels,” Spreen explained.
In other NEC news, the company released two new phones along with a new marketing slogan for the Malaysian market. NEC is selling its e238 and e101 in the country in conjunction with its new “empowered by innovation” slogan.
