Lenovo eyeing second leading mobile brand in Philippines

Lenovo Mobile Communication Technology Ltd. ("Lenovo Mobile"), one of China's biggest mobile handset manufacturers, is seeking to become the second leading brand in the Philippine handset market.

As the smartphone market in the Philippines increases dramatically, Lenovo's distributor, Open Communications, is " committed to offer more affordable, cutting-edge devices, superior customer service and relevant value-added services to Filipinos," John Rojo, Open Communications' Business Unit Head, said in a statement Tuesday.

Lenovo Mobile has recently released new Android phones such as the A65 -- a 3.5 inch entry level Android phone selling for 5,499 pesos (131.24 U.S. dollars) and the P700 -- a four-inch screen Ice Cream Sandwich powered Android with a longer lasting battery worth 10,999 pesos (262.51 U.S. dollars).

Rojo said in the next few months, Lenovo Mobile will introduce more phones in the local market to target both entry level devices in the 5,000 pesos (119.33 U.S. dollars) price range as well as top-of-the-line devices.

"Our goal is to allow majority of Filipinos to own smartphones, " Rojo said.

In May this year, Lenovo Mobile's market share increased by 1. 2 percent in China's mobile phone market (feature phones and smart phones combined), accounting for 11 percent of the total. This elevated the Lenovo brand to No. 2 position, next only to market leader Samsung.