The Rise Of The Handset ODMs Part II
Last August, we discussed how some smaller, Asian, handset makers were not only building, but also designing handsets for the better known brands, and the handsets were being sold under the bigger brand’s mark. We speculated that these ODM (Original Design Manufacturers) were on the rise. Today, we heard the announcement from Korea’s Curitel that it will begin selling its handsets under its own brand, Pantech, in the USA. Previously, Curitel was making most of the phones sold under the Audiovox brand, and also is the actual maker of the popular Kyocera “slider” phones. Curitel’s move is most likely more the result of Audiovox retreating from the handset business, and Curitel wanting to continue with the sales momentum they built under the Audiovox label.
