Global Mobile, one of the six WiMAX operators in Taiwan, on December 15 launched 7G Miracle, an own-brand 3G/WiMAX dual-mode smartphone, for sale in the Taiwan market at a contract-free price of NT$10,500 (US$348) or a contract-bundled price of NT$1,900, according to the company.

7G Miracle is produced by Taiwan-based Gemtek Technology on an ODM basis with chips provided by MediaTek. The smartphone is equipped with Android 2.3, a 4.1-inch touch screen, a 5.0-megapixel camera and an OpenGL 3D accelerator.

Global Mobile plans to launch three own-brand dual-mode smartphones in 2012, according to company chairwoman Rosemary Ho. Global plans to procure 250,000-260,000 WiMAX-enabled terminal devices of which 25% will be smartphones and the remaining will be tablet PCs, wireless network interface cards and other types of hand-held devices. The company expects to attain 250,000 subscribers in 2012, Ho pointed out.

While continuing promotion of WiMAX, Global Mobile has proposed TD-LTE to the National Communications Commission for approval.