BenQ first quarter at a loss

[difenbaker]

Taiwan's BenQ posts worse-than-expected Q1 loss
59 minutes ago
By Sheena Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - BenQ Corp. (2352.TW), Taiwan's top maker of mobile phones and computer gear, swung to a loss in the first quarter as it faced restructuring pains after it took over Siemens (SIEGn.DE) mobile phone unit.

Analysts believe the worst is over for BenQ as new handset models help pave the way to recovery, and its affiliate, AU Optronics Corp. (2409.TW) -- in which BenQ has a 13 percent stake -- lends support thanks to growing shipments of liquid crystal displays.

BenQ posted a net loss of T$4.99 billion (US$155 million) in the first quarter ended March, compared with a T$300 million net profit a year ago and T$6.02 billion net loss in the previous quarter.

The loss was worse than analysts' expectations of a T$4.02 billion shortfall, according to Reuters Estimates.

For the second quarter, BenQ expects shipments of mobile phones to grow over 30 percent from the first quarter, when it shipped 7 million handsets, with average selling prices up more than 10 percent from the first quarter, the company said in a statement.

more here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060424/bs_nm/taiwan_benq_dc;_ylt=AmnsmaS1ckMkcsKffjF6CU8jtBAF;_ ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--


:o

[stephanie]

Their phones look good - but I think that they dont have the 'marketing' and advertising style of Nokia, Motorola and the other big brands. That's why not so many people know them.

[666joe]

Christ that is a bad loss - marketing is great - in other countries - they just need to get the UK penetration right...

[tango945]

There marketing in Ireland and as far as I can see is non existant as I have spent the last week trying to buy a phone and have had no luck even after calling siemens, benq-siemens, my service provide and even the siemens rep here in Ireland suggested I try e-bay.