Huawei Technologies, a leader in telecommunications network solutions, has been selected by TransTelecom, a telecom operator in Bulgaria, to deploy a commercial WiMAX network covering central business districts and hot spots in the country's major cities, including its capital, Sofia, and Varna, Bulgaria's largest harbor city.
     According to the contract, Huawei will supply an end-to-end WiMAX solution, operating in the 3.5GHz frequency band, including terminals. Huawei will also perform a major upgrade of TransTelecom's central exchange equipment, to deploy a fully mobile WiMAX network in 2008.
     In 2006, TransTelecom deployed a 16d-based WiMAX network to meet the country's increasing need for broadband communications, and the operator has chosen Huawei to deliver an upgraded 16e-based network. This 16e-based WiMAX solution will incorporate such advanced technologies as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), to provide high bandwidth, wide area coverage and large capacity, as well as better mobility. Huawei's new base stations will also enable TransTelecom to quickly roll out innovative new services to its customers, while reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
     "We are delighted to choose Huawei as our WiMAX equipment supplier," said John Munnery, chairman of TransTelecom.
     "Extensive tests of this new technology have surpassed all our expectations. In particular, we saw Huawei demonstrate one of the first handovers of traffic from one base station to another in Europe. Huawei has exhibited total commitment to the project throughout our selection process, proving them leaders in this fast-developing technology. What's more, we are also impressed with Huawei's localized engineering and delivery capability."
     "Huawei has deep capabilities in network migration paths for WiMAX commercial deployments," stated Jim Xu, president of Huawei's Eastern Europe Region.
     "With our rich delivery experience and professional localized engineering team, we are confident that we can help TransTelecom to provide an excellent wireless broadband service."
     In related news, a report published in the third quarter of 2007 by industry consulting firm Gartner, titled Market Share: DSLAM Equipment, Worldwide, 3Q07, currently puts Huawei in the No. 1 position in the global IP DSLAM market, with a market share of 31.5%. According to the report, Huawei's IP DSLAM port shipments, in 3Q07, accounted for 77.3% of all DSLAM shipments globally, and the company shipped more than 70 million DSL ports to more than 90 countries worldwide. Huawei has a website at www.huawei.com.

ShengdaTech introduces NPCC for Color Ink-Jet paper

     ShengdaTech Inc., a specialist manufacturer, in China, of nano precipitated calcium carbonate (NPCC) and coal-based chemical products in China, has announced a new NPCC product, NPCCB-100, for use in color ink-jet paper.
     NPCCB-100 was developed by ShengdaTech's Research and Development (R&D) Center in Shanghai, in collaboration with Jinan Anne Paper Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Xiamen Anne Paper Co., Ltd. The new NPCC product is used in the surface coating of top-grade color ink-jet paper. Surface coatings are used on a variety of papers to obtain a certain look, feel, printability and readability. The use of NPCCB-100 in color ink-jet paper increases whiteness, brightness, opacity, smoothness, and rate of ink absorption, while enhancing the strength of the paper. In addition to improving the overall quality of color ink-jet paper, incorporating NPCC in paper coatings can reduce production costs when reducing the amount of kaolin or titanium used.
     "We are excited with the breakthrough of our NPCC product for use in color ink-jet paper. This is a major development in our efforts to expand NPCC for use in paper production," commented Xiangzhi Chen, CEO of ShengdaTech. "Our R&D Center remains dedicated to expanding the application of NPCC in paper manufacturing, including the use of NPCC in coatings for a variety of paper grades and its use as a filler in paper manufacturing. As a filler, NPCC can reduce the amount of pulp required, thereby lowering cost while improving the paper's optical and printing qualities. Our R&D Center is also working closely with major paper mills in North America, in an effort to expand our international market penetration."
     Anne Paper collaborated with ShengdaTech on the research and development of NPCC for use in color ink-jet paper, in an effort to replace the higher cost, lower quality NPCC obtained from an international manufacturer. Anne Paper is one of the largest thermal paper and color ink-jet printing suppliers in China. It is headquartered in Xiamen, Fujian Province, with 34 subsidiaries and offices throughout China, including Jinan Anne Paper Co., Ltd. in Shandong Province. Anne Paper's product lines cover four main categories: thermal paper, carbonless printing paper, color ink-jet paper and offset paper.
     ShengdaTech is engaged in the business of manufacturing, marketing and selling nano-precipitated calcium carbonate ("NPCC") products and coal-based chemicals. Its unique chemical and physical attributes make NPCC a valuable ingredient in tires, paints, polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") building materials and other products. ShengdaTech has a website at www.shengdatechinc.com.

Perfect World upgrades customer-service system

     Beijing Perfect World Network Technology has upgraded its current customer service system by investing in new servers and call-center solutions, to provide better customer service and meet increasing demand created by the company's expanding product portfolio. The upgrades went live on January 5, 2008.
     Beijing Perfect World claims to have one of the best customer-service systems for online games in China. The company's customer-service department has an outstanding customer-service team and system, and it has helped millions of players across China by providing extensive services and enhancing user experience. The company was also awarded ISO 9001:2000 Customer Service Certification by the SGS Group, a leading global inspection, verification, testing and certification company, in August 2007.
     The upgraded customer-service system features a newly acquired Avaya Server and Elite Call-Center Solution. The server provider, Avaya, is a global leader in communication systems, applications, and services. In terms of software, the Company selected the world-class Elite Call-Center Solution with global certification for customer-relations management. The company believes the upgraded customer-service system will enable the customer-service staff to solve game players' questions more efficiently. Furthermore, the number of available lines and the connection quality will be greatly increased.
     "The user experience is always one of the key factors that drive our growth and development, and our newly upgraded customer-service system and equipment demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the user experience through solving customer questions better and faster," commented Chi Yufeng, Chief Executive Officer at Perfect World. "We will provide better, more considerate and delicate customer service to game players, so that they can continue to enjoy our self-developed online games."
     Beijing Perfect World Network Technology Co., Ltd. is a leading integrated online game service provider focused on developing, operating, marketing and servicing online games. The company primarily focuses on developing high quality interactive entertainment products and building a highly recognized brand name in China.
     Available games include Perfect World, a 3D online adventure game that was created in a highly imaginative fantasy world. Perfect World II is a highly accessible international version, based on the original Perfect World game. It allows players from different countries to simultaneously enjoy the charming and enchanting world of the Chinese online game.

China TechFaith launches Wireless Content Unit

     China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Limited, an original developed product (ODP) provider focused on the research and development of cell-phone solutions, has announced the formation of TechFaith Tech-Interactive Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on the development and operation of wireless applications and content.
     The new wireless content unit will initially set up three studios to develop interactive online gaming content. As a unique ODP provider, TechFaith offers the market mid to high end and tailor-made multimedia phones, dual mode dual card phones, smartphones and Pocket PC phones. Extending this strategy, TechFaith is now adding handsets with interactive online gaming and professional game terminals with phone functionality to its current product portfolio. In addition, TechFaith will engage in gaming operations in the China market and provide original design wireless gaming applications and software services to the international market. This will enable TechFaith to gradually evolve from an original developed product provider to an original developed product and content provider. TechFaith's wireless game terminals will be Windows Mobile based, and ultra small PCs will be based on Windows Vista and Windows XP.
     Defu Dong, CEO of TechFaith, explained that, "TechFaith has successfully differentiated itself from traditional players in the handset industry through our hybrid ODP business model. Along the way, we have closely monitored trends and opportunities in the related wireless content sector. We continue to believe this sector has strong growth potential and view wireless online games as a logical place to start penetrating the broader wireless content sector. TechFaith's advantage in handset technology development and research will facilitate our ability to test and run robust content on a variety of platforms. Importantly, we expect enriched content will help increase the average selling price of our current mobile products. Finally, game services and game terminals will be another source of new revenue. By launching TechFaith Tech-Interactive Ltd. as a wholly owned subsidiary, we will be able to incorporate technologies for the convergence of cable and wireless networks, while leveraging our existing scale and relationships to accelerate growth at home and abroad."
     Based in China, TechFaith's business includes handset design, feature-phone solutions, data-card and wireless modules, application software, and smartphones and pocket PCs, with the capability of developing MMI/UI software on GSM/GPRS, CDMA1X, EVDO, WCDMA/UMTS, HSDPA and TD-SCDMA communication technologies. For more information, please visit www.techfaithwireless.com.