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emiconductor company Qualcomm, local mobile phone vendor Cross and mobile phone operator PT XL Axiata have partnered up to provide affordable third generation (3G) enabled smartphones for the market.

Ben Siagian, country manager of Qualcomm Indonesia, said that its 3G-enabled chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon, now powered Cross smartphones.

“This kind of collaboration among stakeholders is essential in expanding 3G-based products and services in the country,” he said.

More than 80 percent of the Indonesian mobile phone market is composed of second generation, or 2G, feature phones with limited ability to access data services, including the Internet.

However, Cross said that offering affordably priced smartphones was essential in getting people to adopt 3G-related technology.

“Our collaboration with Qualcomm has allowed us to get chipsets at reduced prices, which has in turn, lowered the prices of our smartphones,” Cross marketing director Janto Djojo said.

He added that the partnership with Qualcomm had also ensured that the smartphones delivered a good customer experience.

At least two of Cross’ smartphones will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

These smartphones will be bundled with mobile services from XL Axiata.