Friday, January 6, 2017

WITH LEICA’S HELP HUAWEI INTENDS TO BEAT APPLE FOR PLACE TWO




huawei-mate-9-smartphone-with-dual-lens-leica-camera


When Leica announced close cooperation with Huawei last year, many questioned if this made sense.  Many felt that cooperation with Apple would have been more successful.  Since then Leica has entered an even closer relationship with Huawei.   

They have expanded their strategic collaboration with the establishment of a jointly operated research and innovation center, the ‘Max Berek Innovation Lab’. The launch came only seven months after the public announcement of their long-term technology partnership in the field of optical engineering, and five months after the launch of the globally successful, multiple-award winning HUAWEI P9 and P9 Plus smartphones.

The new lab, located at Leica’s global HQ in Wetzlar, Germany, will drive further development of optical systems and software-based technologies to improve imaging quality in a wide range of photographic and mobile device applications. Additional outcomes will include the creation of computational imaging, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) solutions. In addition to R&D resources from both companies, Huawei and Leica plan to collaborate with German and international universities and research institutions.

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman
of the advisory board of Leica Camera AG (left) and
Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei (right)

The lab’s establishment is the result of the vision and support of Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei and Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, majority shareholder and chairman of the advisory board of Leica Camera AG.

The questioning of the value of this relationship to quite a degree appears to be the result of a lack of knowledge about Huawei.  They are far from being a “me too” manufacturer.  To the contrary, last year, Huawei reached third place on the list of the world's largest smartphone providers, with 139 million mobile phones sold. The industry is currently led by the South Korean electronics giant Samsung with Apple in second place. Huawei was behind Apple in third place but in front of other competitors like Oppo, Xiaomi and Lenovo.  Huawei is certain that in the foreseeable future, they will move up to second place.

huawei-mate-9-smartphone-with-dual-lens-leica-camera-2

huawei-mate-9-smartphone-with-dual-lens-leica-camera-1
Huawei Mate 9

The success of Huawei is due, among other things, to the efforts in research and development.  Over the past ten years, Huawei has spent over $ 38 billion on that segment of its business alone.

In his speech at the current CES show in Las Vegas, Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei emphasized the contribution of companies from Germany to the common business success. Huawei uses camera modules and lenses developed by Leica for its top smartphones. A special series of the Huawei Mate 9 was designed by Porsche Design, and in the newly networked cars from Audi, Huawei's wireless modules will provide connectivity in the 4G and 4.5G networks.

In view of the rapid growth of the cell phone industry in general, the fact that no other major camera and lens manufacturer has currently any connection to this market, and considering the rapid growth of Huawei, it emphasizes the far sightedness of Leica to be engaged in this ever growing industry.


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