Jabil looking to recruit handset R&D talent in Taiwan, say sources

EMS provider Jabil Circuit is reportedly following the steps of rival company Flextronics International of seeking to recruit R&D staff from handset ODMs in Taiwan to strengthen its handset ODM capability, according to sources at the Taiwan handset industry.

Digitimes reported earlier that Flextronics is planning to set up a handset ODM team in Taiwan in order to compete with local handset makers for ODM orders from brand handset vendors.

Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), the Hong Kong-listed handset subsidiary of Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), has led both Flextronics and Jabil in handset EMS and ODM businesses through the recruitment of talent from local handset makers, the sources noted.

But the raids of handset talent by Flextronics and Jabil may not be easy at this moment because local handset makers and vendors, including HTC (High Tech Computer), Acer, Inventec and Compal Communications, have continued expanding their R&D teams, the sources said.

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