"China now has the most mobile phone users in the world, and the percentage will triple in the next five years," said Franz Obenaus, general manager of PSS Beijing. "Considering China's large population, there will be a market demand for mobile phones the likes of which have never been seen before."

PSS Vienna, a part of the Philips Austria GmbH, is the market leader in acoustic components for mobile telecommunications, meeting the challenges of increasing miniaturization and enhanced acoustic quality with innovative new products.

PSS Beijing was founded in the Beijing Electronic Zone in 2000 to supply the growing international market and the local market in China in particular.

Two production lines for 13-millimetre speakers have been in full operation since April.

Last year, PSS Beijing produced 18 million speakers.

According to Obenaus, PSS Beijing plans to reach a production capacity in China of 120 million items by 2004.

Obenaus said: "Together, PSS Beijing and Vienna are the worldwide market leaders for acoustic components for mobile telecommunication. With a very high level of automation and a well-established quality assurance system, sound solutions is a trendsetter in miniaturization and new product ideas. "With the expansion resulting from the Beijing factory coming on stream, PSS is taking into account the increased market demand and is ready for the future."

(China Daily March 14, 2002)