17 October 2017, Shanghai, China - ZTE Mobile Devices, a leading global mobile device maker and the E-Commerce Platform JD.com held a signing ceremony to announce a new strategic partnership, building upon and expanding the 2015 agreement. This new partnership demonstrates the commitment of both companies to increase collaboration, and reflects the value of the partnership in providing enhanced benefits for consumers. ZTE and JD.com look forward to expanding collaboration on channel distribution, promotional capabilities, brand development, and other areas to jointly pursue opportunities for the 5G era.  

This signing ceremony was held during the announcement for the upcoming launch of the revolutionary ZTE Axon M, a foldable smartphone with dual screens. This device will be available online first at JD.com upon release in China.  

Deepening Partnerships, Accelerating Mobile Innovation

“There is currently a fundamental and profound shift occurring in the mobile technology ecosystem and how consumers engage the world around them. ZTE is at the forefront of this wave of innovation,” said Lixin Cheng, CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices. “Together with JD.com, we will provide more innovative mobile devices and experiences for Chinese consumers.”

As a leading global smartphone manufacturer, ZTE is focused on achieving technological breakthroughs that can drive industry-wide shifts in the mobile industry. In the beginning of 2017 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ZTE announced the world’s first gigabit smartphone. In September 2017, ZTE once again announced the release of two more gigabit devices and further established the company’s leadership in 5G technologies. Today, with the global launch of the foldable Axon M smartphone, ZTE has created an entirely new category – foldable smartphone – that will provide unlimited potential for consumers.   

Mr. Hu Shengli, Vice President of JD.com and President of JD Electronics, praised the foldable smartphone’s innovative design and impressive functionality. He believes the Axon M will provide a unique experience for consumers, with the dual screens enabling an incredible range of multitasking capabilities and applications. 

Innovative Products + Advanced Platform, Seizing the 5G Moment

JD.com is the leading electronic retail platform in China with over 200 million users and will provide advanced capabilities in channel distribution, promotional capabilities, and brand development to support ZTE sales and marketing efforts. In turn, ZTE’s innovative and competitive mobile devices offer JD.com customers industry-leading affordable products. In particular, the customers will benefit from new and innovative ZTE products such as the Axon and Blade series smartphones, which have enjoyed positive reviews and strong sales on JD.com. 

Mr. Hu Shengli, Vice President of JD.com and President of JD Electronics said, “We are very excited to see ZTE’s incredible success in the US market and this launch of the foldable Axon M smartphone is the latest demonstration that ZTE mobile devices are the pride of China. We look forward to our growing partnership and will fully support ZTE.”

The renewal of this partnership is more than an extension of current collaboration, but rather a strengthening and deepening of the strategic partnership. The arrival of 5G networks will create both opportunities and challenges as internet speeds dramatically increase, networks become smarter, and the pace of innovation continues to advance.  This agreement marks a new era of the ZTE and JD.com strategic partnership to expand collaboration on technological and industry developments, strengthen cooperation on core competencies, and together lead the 5G mobile revolution.