- Deep profiles of 20 major suppliers with an in-depth look at their manufacturing capabilities, product roadmaps, pricing strategies and more. Based on factory visits and personal interviews with senior managers, this information is not available anywhere else
- Brief profile tables of 24 additional manufacturers, highlighting key sourcing information such as factory locations and capacities, export markets, R&D focus and technology partners
- A Product Gallery showcasing 103 best-selling export models with top-line specifications, full-color pictures and ordering information
- The results of Global Sources’ latest supplier survey, forecasting price, product, production and R&D trends for the next 12 months
- This report covers Bluetooth, car, combination Bluetooth headsets, and portable and wired handsfree kits

Executive Summary:

Greater China’s handsfree kit manufacturing industry, which comprises mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, will continue to expand in 2007. The strongest growth is expected in the wireless sector, where Bluetooth adoption is gaining momentum and driving the rising supply of wireless handsfree kits. The wired segment will remain bouyant despite more inroads from wireless models, with makers of wired handsfree kits catering to developing and emerging markets.

Strong growth in the mobile phone and wireless industries worldwide, in particular the Bluetooth sector, is a major factor influencing the mobile phone handsfree kit in Greater China. The take off of mobile phones with MP3 playback and Bluetooth capability is prompting makers to increase their output of handsfree kits to support these new phones. Regulations in more countries worldwide stipulating the use of handsfree kits while driving is helping boost demand.

The worldwide production volume of mobile phone handsfree kits is projected to hit 306 million units in 2007, with a projected annual growth of 32 percent. By 2008, about 28 percent of all the headsets produced worldwide will incorporate handsfree kit functions.

This growth will be mirrored by Greater China’s thriving mobile phone handsfree kit sector. The projected aggregate output of makers in this report for 2007 is at least 285.97 million units, with exports at 142.37 million units. Production and exports will grow by more than 100 percent and 56 percent over 2006, respectively.

This sourcing report covers 44 makers of handsfree kits: 30 from mainland China, 10 from Taiwan and four from Hong Kong. These companies represent a cross section of Greater China’s supplier base, representing small and new makers, as well as medium-scale and large players. These companies come from the key product categories in this report: wired handsfree kits and wireless handsfree kits, and many of them develop and produce both types.

These companies provided manufacturing, export, sales and product development information and forecasts, from which the following findings were drawn:
•  Portable and in-car models dominate Greater China’s supply of wired handsfree kits. Bluetooth leads the wireless segment, although some makers still offer IR and RF handsfree kits.
•  The current generation of Bluetooth handsfree kits from Greater China supports Bluetooth 1.2. Makers are planning to step up to Bluetooth 2.0.
•  Makers are also building in stereo capabilities to support the enhanced audio value of new mobile phones incorporating MP3 playback.
•  Prices will likely decline in the coming months. In the wired handsfree kit sector, this will be aided by the strong supply. In the wireless sector, the continuous drop in the prices of Bluetooth chipsets will push down unit FOB prices. Most Greater China makers are export-oriented, with OEM and ODM accounting for most of the overseas shipments.

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