China and Taiwan agree to promote a number of telecommunications technologies
Map showing the Taiwan Strait, between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Taiwan
Years ago as China’s economy started to take flight, many Asian observers pondered the impact of matching Japan’s technologies to China’s huge market. Relations between the two countries never warmed up sufficiently for this to take place. However, in a strange twist of fate, we’ll find out or have some idea soon of the impact of a partnership between China and Taiwan, as these two countries agree to develop and promote a selected number of telecommunications technologies. The telecommunications technologies include Google’s Android mobile software and networking technologies for wireless cities.
This proposed agreement, known formally as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) (兩岸經濟合作架構協議), came at a conference focused on choosing technologies and co-developing global standards to create business opportunities for China and Taiwan. Both sides hope to finalize and sign the agreement later in the month. Officials said the pact will include a list of industries that will benefit first from preferential tariffs, as well as measures on protecting intellectual property rights.
The two partners also want to develop technical standards so they don’t have to rely on or pay license fees for technology developed elsewhere. The ultimate goal is to create their own global standards.
Cooperation between China and Taiwan may not be as difficult as it first appears. Over the past decade, tensions between the two have eased. It is now possible for financial institutions to open outlets across the Taiwan Strait. Another sign of warming relations is the building of the first TD-SCDMA test network ever in Taiwan last year.
The two sides outlined a number of plans to promote Android in a range of devices, from smartphones and e-readers to netbooks and tablets. The embracing of Android is not a surprise as it is already popular among gadget makers in Taiwan, such as HTC Corporation (formerly High Tech Computer Corporation). Plus it is Open Source. Don’t forget the OPhone, the OS adopted by China Mobile for its smartphones, is an Android derivative. This makes it relatively easy for Android apps developers to port over.
Ho Pao-chung, a director at Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry, said the two countries plan to develop an organization to promote Android and the OPhone, to develop product specifications and reference designs and more. Work will also be done on standard user interfaces for devices, as well as new products and services for mobile cloud computing.
Also in the plan is to build a product testing and certification center to help companies bring gadgets, applications and services to market more quickly.
Another thing they need to learn is how to bottle Apple’s technique of the “cool” factor.
Similar Posts:
- China and Taiwan to promote EPUB e-book standard
- Taiwan to Sign China Pact, Deepening Trade Ties as Relations Thaw Under Ma
- Taiwan firms to launch tablet PCs
- Taiwan, China Open First Semi-Official Offices
- China Trade Deal ‘Vital’ First Step for Taiwan, Official Says
