Huawei sets sights on consumer market

Chinese vendor tells Financial Times it is looking to become one of the top three handset brands by 2015

Huawei is gunning for a top spot in the consumer mobile market, the Financial Times has revealed.

The Chinese firm recently launched its Vision smartphone, which gives users access to cloud computing services, and is looking to steal a march on rivals such as Nokia, Samsung, LG, Apple and RIM in the years to come.

Wan Biao, chief executive of Huawei’s device unit, told the FT it aimed to be “among the world’s top three handset brands in 2015”.

Earlier this year the vendor signed a pan-European distribution deal with 20:20 Mobile, which will see the firm supply smartphones, tablets, mobile broadband dongles and mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to different channels across western and eastern Europe.

At the time, Wang Jiading, vice president of Huawei, said it was “crucial” for Huawei to partner with distributors that can expand its retail channels and add real value.