Microsoft to sell feature phone business to Foxconn

Microsoft acquired Nokia's feature phone business in 2014, and now the Redmond giant has announced that the company is selling its feature phone business to FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group and HMD Global for $350 million. FIH Mobile will also acquire Microsoft's manufacturing facility in Hanoi, Vietnam — Microsoft Mobile Vietnam.

As part of the deal, Microsoft will transfer all of the feature phone assets, including brands, software and services, care network and other assets, customer contracts, and critical supply agreements. Once the deal is complete, about 4,500 employees will transfer or have the opportunity to join FIH Mobile or HMD Global. The deal is expected to close in second half of 2016, subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. 

Microsoft said that it will concentrate and continue to develop Windows 10 Mobile platform and support Lumia phones such as Lumia 650, 950 and 950 XL, and phones from OEM partners including Acer, Alacatel, HP and VAIO. Rumors suggest that Microsoft will focus on Surface Phone launch next year. 

This means that the Nokia 230 that was released in November last year, will be the last feature phone from Microsoft. The news comes soon after Microsoft reported that it managed to sell only 2.3 million Lumia devices last quarter, a massive 73 percent drop from the 8.6 million in the same period last year. 

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Foxconn may soon build Microsoft's Windows Phones in India

The Times of India reports that Microsoft is closing in on an agreement with Foxconn to manufacture phones in India. Foxconn will start manufacturing smartphones in the country for Microsoft in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

 Foxconn is a Taiwan-based contract manufacturer. The company makes phones for top global brands, including Apple as well as Nokia N1 tablet.

Terry Gou, Chairman of Foxconn Technology Group, recently visited India and made a statement that the company will commit $2 billion to set up 10 to 12 factories across the country with initial plans for Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujrat.

The new Foxconn factory named Rising Star, is a rented building in manufacturing hub Sri City with over 100 employees.The Rs. 770 million facility is now being used to put together smartphones for Xiaomi, and American brand InFocus.

The report also states that multiple sources have confirmed that Foxconn plant will manufacture two variants of Microsoft smartphone in India.The Indian market has so far been catered to from China, Finland and Vietnam. According to analysts, Microsoft would join brands such as Micromax, Lava, Spice, Gionee and Xiaomi that have begun or looking to start their operation in India, instead of importing finished goods from China.

In recent time a number of Mobile product makers including Sony, LG, Motorola, Lenovo, HTC, Asus and Micromax have announced their plans to manufacture their handsets in India. Suddenly it seems like everyone has an interest to manufacture their phones in India, but there is a darker side. The interest is triggered because of the hike in excise duty up to 12.5% to boost local manufacturing. Smartphone brands have realized that manufacturing in India is more feasible than importing parts and assembling them. This will also result in job opportunities.

Of-course, Indian consumers will benefit from this because handset manufacturers can now assemble and sell smartphones locally and also to neighboring countries, with consumer benefiting with lower prices. India is expected to become the second largest smartphone market in the world by 2017.

Microsoft shows off Foxconn Kangaroo, Quanta Compute Plug mini PCs

Microsoft showcased two new tiny computers running Windows 10 from Taiwanese manufacturers Quanta and FoxConn at Computex 2015 in Taipei.

Quanta's Compute Plug is a mini PC in a power adapter that can be plugged into the HDMI port and is meant to turn TVs and displays into smart computer that can be controlled using Cortana via Bluetooth remote or headset. It runs Windows 10. The Compute Plug design is of the old adapters, instead of having a wire running from the back, the device houses two USB 3.0 ports and HDMI. It also features WiFi and Bluetooth to connect keyboard, mouse and other peripherals.

Foxconn's Kangaroo is an ultra-portable desktop PC that is powered by Intel's Cherry Trail processor. It features fingerprint reader that supports Windows Hello and lets users login to Windows 10. It offers six hours of battery life and can turn a TV into a PC and can also be used as a streaming device or set top box.

Microsoft didn't reveal any other details of the two mini PCs, it's price or availability in the market.

Source : Liliputing

Is Apple Turning To Foxconn For Sapphire Display?

According to a report by China Economic Weekly, Foxconn Technology Group, Apple's main iPhone assembly partner, is apparently gearing up to produce sapphire displays for Apple's next generation of mobile devices. The “sapphire glass” is an intensely durable material that could revolutionize the way we handle our Apple gadgets.

Presently, though iPhone 5s display is made of a Gorilla Glass, two of its most precious parts are surprisingly encased in sapphire glass: its 8-megapixel camera and the Home button’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Scratch or smashed camera cover could affect the photos, to prevent this it gets this special treatment. And when it comes to the sensor, it’s also important that its enclosed in a scratch-free, crystal clear surface.

Foxconn, Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturing company, has reportedly reached an agreement to build a display factory on an over 300-acre plot of land adjacent to an iPhone 6 assembly plant in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou.

The report said that Foxxconn has already planned of setting a display factory adjacent to the iPhone 6 assembly plant. It is expected to manufacture sapphire displays for the next generation of the Apple devices. And to bring this to effect it has signed an agreement with the Zhengzhou city government in Henan Province, central China, to set up a display factory on a 133-hectare plot of land.

Apple had considered to use sapphire displays on few models of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but apparently due to some production difficulties it couldn’t move any further with this idea. The main reason for this being bankruptcy filed by Apple’s sapphire partner, GT Advanced Technologies which led to collapse of the partnership between the two companies.

As per the new reports, Apple is still considering to develop next generation smartphones with sapphire displays. The market researchers believe that Apple is working carefully on the feasibility of introducing iPhone models with sapphire displays and also is working on measures to avoid shortages.

Via: FocusTaiwan