Phone Maker Transsion Catches the African Beat

(Shenzhen) – A Shenzhen-based mobile phone maker whose brands are virtually unknown in China but common in Africa is growing so quickly that even smartphone powerhouse Huawei is looking over its shoulder.

Some 7 million handsets made by Shenzhen Transsion Holdings Ltd. were shipped mainly to African countries in January alone, according to China's Mobile News trade journal. That feat helped Transsion rise to second place among Chinese mobile phone exporters, behind only Huawei, which reported 8.3 million global shipments that month.