Mobile telecom carrier Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) has sold 200,000 Xiaomi 3 and Hong-mi (Red Rice) smartphones developed by China-based vendor Xiaomi Technology through contract-bundled sale in the Taiwan market, according to the company.

　　In addition, FET will start contract-bundled sales of the Hong-mi Note in May 2014, the company indicated. FET expects to procure 2.3-2.5 million handsets for contract-bundled sale in 2014 and smartphones developed by Xiaomi will take up 15-20%, the company said.

　　The proportion of high-end smartphones is likely to decrease from 52-53% in 2013 to 45%, FET noted. FET plans to start commercial operations of 4G mobile communication services in the third quarter of 2014, and 70% of 4G-enabled smartphones are expected to be of high-end smartphones, the company said.

　　FET estimates subsidies for 3G and 4G smartphones in 2014 at NT$15 billion (US$495 million).