China and the smartphone wars goes to Brazil

I began this site noting that "the future is Brazil." I've tracked Blackberry's progress in Brazil. When I write about America's future, I typically mention that we need more -- not less -- trade, focus and, yes, immigration with South America.

China, apparently, is listening. Today, from DigiTimes:

ZTE, a China-based supplier of telecom infrastructure equipment and terminal devices, has signed an MOU with the Brazil government for developing a telecom park in Brazil.

The park occupies 50 hectares (123.6 acres), consisting of four zones specifically for use by an R&D center, production base, administration and supporting service center and residential community of employees, the report indicated.  

and...

China-based telecom equipment supplier Huawei Technologies plans to invest US$300 million to set up a R&D center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Huawei entered the Brazil market of mobile telecom equipment in 1999 and has established a technical training center in Campinas, Sao Paulo, the source noted.

Both these companies are aggressively moving into low-cost smartphones: Android. And not just Brazil, or China, or India, for example. But also the USA:

Chinese smartphone makers Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. are looking to break into the top U.S. carriers. ZTE said it would quadruple the number of smartphones it ships globally to 12 million this year, which includes its first model for a top-tier wireless provider in the U.S. Huawei, which already provides a smartphone to the smaller prepaid providers, said it is in talks with the four national carriers.

Huawei's and ZTE's push into the U.S. comes at fortuitous time for the companies. Both are known for their ability to supply low-cost products, which have become more crucial as carriers seek to get smartphones in as many hands as possible. As a result, both companies are expecting an expanded presence in the U.S.

The Chinese companies face a significant hurdle in building consumer awareness for their brands, particularly because many of their mobile devices sold in the U.S.-- basic flip phones and mobile modems -- only have the carrier's name.

ZTE and Huawei are looking to emulate HTC Corp., which moved from a quiet supplier of carrier-branded smartphones to a major player in the U.S. market. The companies share a similar philosophy of moving quickly to fulfill the carriers' needs.