SEOUL-South Korean electronics vendor Pantech Group said it plans to increase its handset sales in the United States by 20 percent this year. The company also said it will work to sell its products directly to U.S. wireless carriers.
“Even though we are a relatively young company, we have built a strong reputation in the provision of top quality, stylishly designed yet affordable products to consumers,” said Moon Song, president and chief executive officer of Pantech&Curitel Communications Inc. The company is variously referred to as Pantech, Curitel or Pantech&Curitel. “Our focus now is to broaden our global presence across all markets, particularly in the U.S.”
The company said it would further its U.S. operations with the opening of its new U.S. subsidiary, Pantech Wireless Inc., which is based in Cypress, Calif.
Pantech began business in the United States in 1998 through an original design manufacturing relationship with electronics distributor Audiovox Communications Corp., which is now owned by UTStarcom Inc. Pantech sells its phones under other companies’ brand names, such as Audiovox. Pantech said it sold 7 million phones in the United States last year-all of which featured other companies’ brands.
The company’s progress in 2005 ran against its initial promises. In December 2004, Pantech pledged that it would sell 10 million phones in the United States in 2005, and that all of the phones would carry its own Pantech logo.
A Pantech spokesman was not immediately available to comment on whether the company now in fact plans to sell handsets in the United States using its own Pantech brand.
In addition to its U.S. efforts, Pantech said it also is expanding its presence in South America. The company said it has a supply agreement with Brazilian carrier Vivo and Mexican carrier America Movil SA.
