Zhang Xiaoyi

    417880236@qq.com

    ZTE Corp., one of the world’s major telecom equipment makers, has teamed up with No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier AT&T Inc. to launch a hotspot device called “ZTE Mobley” for the U.S. car market.

    It is a strategic step for Shenzhen-based ZTE to enter the U.S. connected car market, which is expected to see 75 percent of new cars in the country with built-in connectivity by 2020.

    “Our cooperation with U.S. partner yielded an innovative WiFi product. The launch of ZTE Mobley is a successful beginning for ZTE Corp. to march into the U.S. connected car market,” said Cheng Lixin, senior vice president of ZTE and president of the firm’s North America Device Business division.

    ZTE Mobley is able to provide a 4G high-speed network connection in vehicles produced after 1995. The hotspot device can provide a WiFi connection to five devices at the same time.

    It was designed to be plugged into cars, which will charge the device. When the vehicle is switched on, its hotspot service will be switched on as well.

    Users can access 4G signals provided by AT&T, giving access to the internet. The hotspot device also allows users to design their own management page, enabling personalized services, ZTE said.

    “The ZTE Mobley is our first WiFi plug-in for the car. It’s great for everyone — families, enthusiasts and professionals,” said Chris Penrose, senior vice president at AT&T Mobility.

    ZTE has also set its sights on the domestic connected car market, signing a deal last month with Shenzhen-based BYD Co., an electric car manufacturer backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

    Car owners will be able to control their BYD cars by using an application on ZTE mobile phones.