Motorola unit exits handsets business

Hangzhou Motorola Cellular Equipment Co Ltd, a joint venture between Motorola Inc and Hangzhou Eastern Communications Co Ltd, is stopping cell phone production after the first quarter of this year, underlining the extended woes of the US communication giant's troubled mobile phone business.

"The cell phone sector will be integrated into production lines in Tianjin Motorola after the first quarter of this year," said Chen Lei, spokesperson, Motorola China.

"Hangzhou Motorola will instead focus on TV set-top-box business as well as broadband and mobile network equipment," he said.