Taiwan Market: CHT-HTC jointly launch Touch Cruise

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) and High Tech Computer (HTC) on January 24 jointly launched the HTC Touch Cruise in Taiwan, with CHT aiming to use the device to further promote its upgraded mPro business-use platform.

The Touch Cruise, which features HSDPA/3.5G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and GPS functionality, will enable the subscribers of CHT's mPro service to easily access news reports, stock performance and weather information and enjoy expanded email space, according to sources at CHT.

With the launch of the Touch Cruise, CHT aims to boost the number of its mPro clients to 140,000 by the end of 2008 from the current 40,000, the sources noted.

With the ARPU (average revenue per user) per mPro client now standing at NT$1,500 (US$46) a month, CHT expected its mPro revenues will reach NT$1.7 billion in 2008, the Chinese-language Commercial Times quoted CHT sources as indicating.