Sharp to enter China handset market

Japanese electronics maker Sharp will begin selling mobile phones in China this month, the Wall Street Journal reported. Sharp said that its Aquos clamshell phones will be sold through Dixintong, one of China’s largest phone retailers, for US$648. The company’s decision to sell phones in China follows the exit from the market of rivel Japanese handset makers NEC and Matsushita due to poor sales. Sharp said it expected the Aquos to sell better in China than other Japanese phones due to an established brand in China through LCD televisions. Sharp holds 23% of the Japanese cellphone market, but has only a 1% share globally.