Who makes MyPhone's devices? An interview with the local brand's hardware partner
Finally. At the launch of the P2,999 MyPhone Rio Fun in Tagaytay, we eventually caught up with Steven Han, the country manager of Tinno Mobile Technology Corporation.
Tinno what?
It’s the company that builds handsets and tablets for MyPhone. In short, it's the local outfit's exclusive hardware partner.
Contrary to popular belief, MyPhone’s products are not rebranded Micromax devices; the local firm and India’s Micromax just happen to have the same original design manufacturer or ODM, and that’s Tinno Mobile. We’re sure other local brands like Cherry Mobile and Starmobile have their own hardware partners as well.
An ODM is a company that “designs and manufactures a product which is specified and eventually branded by another firm for sale.”
SEE ALSO: How much of the iPhone 5 is manufactured in China? and Why iPhones are actually cheaper in China than the US (INFOGRAPHIC)
Anyhow, here are some of the things Steven Han mentioned to us at the Rio Fun launch:
- Tinno Mobile has been manufacturing MyPhone products for the last seven years.
- The MyPhone collaborator also has a team in the Philippines that does market research and ensures the integrity of MyPhone devices.
- For now, Tinno Mobile only uses MediaTek chipsets—they are fast and cost-effective, Han said—which is why all MyPhone products are MediaTek-based. However, the manufacturer remains open to the idea of adopting Qualcomm processors.
- When it comes to software updates, Tinno Mobile works closely with MyPhone to bring the latest Android version available to its devices. Han even said that the Android KitKat update for existing MyPhones may be available in June.
- About a month from now, expect to see new MyPhones, including low-end models, that ship with Android KitKat.
- Tinno Mobile has an LTE-capable phone designed around a quad-core MediaTek chip in the works; it's penciled in for an official launch sometime in the next two months.
For our full interview, watch the video below. If you care about MyPhones, or even Androids in general, you shouldn't miss it. We apologize in advance for the mic that went wonky on us.
Got any questions or news tips? Tweet the author at @aloraguerrero.
