ZTE, Huawei Device, Coolpad and Lenovo, the four largest China-based smartphone vendors, are expected to ship at least 50 million units each in 2014, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

　　The main sources of shipment growth in 2014 for the four vendors are demand for TD-LTE (4G) smartphones in the China market and their vendors' ability to tap overseas markets, the sources indicated.

　　As China Mobile aims to launch TD-LTE smartphones priced at CNY1,000 (US$164) or below, China-based vendors are expected to launch models for sale at such prices in the first half of 2014, the sources noted. As a result, TD-LTE smartphones are expected to account for 30-40% of handsets sold in the China market in 2014, higher than the global average of 10-20%.

　　In addition to the China market, ZTE and Huawei have tapped overseas markets for years and will strengthen their marketing of mid-range and high-end smartphones in 2014. Coolpad has been selling 4G smartphones through cooperation with mobile telecom carriers in the US and Europe, while Lenovo has been tapping emerging markets, the sources indicated.

　　Samsung Electronics and Apple will continue to be the largest two vendors in the global smartphone market in 2014, while the four China-based vendors are expected to surpass Nokia, Taiwan-based HTC, Motorola Mobility and BlackBerry to compete with LG Electronics and Sony Mobile Communications for ranking among the largest five global market shares.

　　Apart from the four vendors, China-based Xiaomi Technology has extended its marketing of flagship and inexpensive smartphones from the China market to the Taiwan and Southeast Asia markets and is therefore likely to ship 40 million units in 2014, the sources indicated. TCL Communication Technology Holdings, a China-based vendor selling smartphones under brand TCL in the China market and under Alcatel One Touch in overseas market, will stand a chance of shipping 40 million units in 2014.