Nokia new focus on touch, full-keyboard and low-cost handsets will benefit Taiwan makers

Nokia's target to significantly increase the proportion of touch and/or QWERTY devices in its smartphone portfolio and further optimize the industry's lowest cost end-to-end business models for mobile phones in 2010 will benefit Taiwan handset and handset component makers, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Taiwan-based touch panel suppliers such as Wintek and Innolux Display will benefit from Nokia's thrust to boost its share in the touch-enabled segment, and keypad makers Silitech Technology and Ichia Technologies are expected to receive windfall orders for keypads for QWERTY devices, the sources said.

Nokia is also likely to increase its outsourcing of low-cost 2G and CDMA handsets to Taiwan production partners, including the Foxconn Group and Compal Communications, in its efforts to advance its penetration in emerging markets, added the sources.