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DEFINITION: Shanzai [San-zai -alt. sp.Shanzhai] 1. mountain fortress/bandit 2. a vendor, who operates a business without observing the traditional rules or practices often resulting in innovative and unusual products or business models.

From illegitimate king to official concubine
Articles - News
Written by Tai-Pan   
Thursday, 03 September 2009 11:22

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MediaTek the unofficial king of shanzhai is widely recognized as the key player that put the juice in the entire shanzhai phone market with their standardized phone platforms and software support. MediaTek platforms are behind most of the wacky, innovative and knock-off shanzhai phones we’ve been covering on this site. Now China Mobile says it “may” set up a joint venture on the mainland with MediaTek.

The JV will develop parts for the telecom carrier's home-grown TD-SCDMA wireless technology, the newspaper cited unnamed source as saying.

China Mobile plans to take a 70% stake in the new company, according to the report.


MediaTek has been experience phenomenal growth this year globally and has recently signed deals to work with legit phone manufacturing players like HTC. A deal with China Mobile would also likely involve a legitimate 3G handset IC license allowing them to enter the low end feature phone market which looks to be their next big play.

70% to China Mobile would give MediaTek about a 4th wife or concubine status in the China phone industry and be one more step along the path of proving that a shanzhai business model and channels,  when properly done can lead to legitimate success. That is if money, status, power and global recognition are your measuring sticks.

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