Amazon.cn launches contract cellphones from China Unicom

The China branch of Amazon.com Inc officially launched contract cellphones from China Unicom, one of the country's largest telecommunications operators, on Thursday.

More than 60 types of contract cellphones from China Unicom are available on the website of Amazon.cn, the China operation of the largest online retailer in the United States, for Beijing local users.

"The team up will certainly benefit consumers, who can easily buy contract phones at a very reasonable prices without leaving their homes. They can even pick their favorite phone number online," said Li Yanchuan, vice-president of Amazon China.

The team up with China Unicom came only months after Amazon China's cooperation with China Telecom, another leading telecommunications company in China. More than 130 different kinds of contract cellphones from both carriers are available online, said Amazon China.

Following many of its Chinese competitors, Amazon China is the sixth national online marketplace China Unicom has teamed with to sell its contract cellphones. In the cutthroat but booming e-commerce market in China, Amazon China has seen its market share shrink to 2.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared with 14 percent in late 2007, according to research firm Analysys International, of Beijing.

Li from Amazon China said he is satisfied with the company's business performance in China but refused to give details. "Market share does matter. But we are not only interested in becoming a big company but also a good one. So our development in China is really based on our long-term strategy not short-term results," he said.