Vietnamese phone maker VinSmart, which is a subsidiary of the conglomerate Vingroup, has signed a cooperation agreement with Fujitsu and Qualcomm to develop a 5G smartphone that will be made in Vietnam. If everything goes according to plan, the phone will be available at the end of April 2020 in the US, Europe, and some other markets as well, according to local media reports.
The new device is expected to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G modular platform, while also incorporating advanced features utilized by Fujitsu, such as power management, the IP68 waterproof rating (meaning the device can withstand dust, dirt, and sand, and can be submersed to a maximum depth of 1.5 m underwater for up to 30 minutes), as well as an optimal antenna system that can handle both 4G and 5G connections.
This link-up will place VinSmart among the world’s first 5G phone manufacturers.
VinSmart was inaugurated by Vingroup last June and released four smartphone models in December 2018. Its phones have been sold in Spain and Myanmar since early 2019.
Vietnam is in the process of testing out 5G technologies. In January, the Vietnamese government awarded the first 5G trial license to Viettel, the country’s biggest telecommunications and IT services provider. Viettel made its first 5G call last month and is running a 5G trial period until January 2020.