Brightpoint goes for UK smartphone market

Brightpoint Great Britain Ltd is lining up an assault on the UK smartphone market, after its takeover of Hugh Symons Telecom (HST).

A full rebranding exercise has taken place since American distributor Brightpoint completed its £3.6m acquisition of HST’s wireless distribution business last month.

Bosses at the newly formed Brightpoint GB are now targeting major growth in the company’s distribution of high-end b2b devices in the UK.

It is understood that Brightpoint GB will use its smartphone software supply deals – particularly with Windows Mobile – to attract more high-end smartphone device deals.

HST (not to be confused with Hugh Symons Communications) already had deals with several manufacturers, but with Brightpoint on board bosses are now setting their sights on distributing more top-tier devices.

The company is in the running for a UK Nokia distribution contract as part of Nokia’s full-scale review of distribution.

One Brightpoint GB source said: ‘Brightpoint has a close relationship with most of the tier one device manufacturers.

‘HST has a skill set and delivery model based around the smartphone.

‘Together the two companies will be going after the UK smartphone market.’

According to Brightpoint figures, the company handled approximately 83 million wireless devices globally in 2007.

Steen Pedersen, president for Brightpoint Europe, said: ‘We have been looking for an opportunity to enter the UK market for the past few years. We believe that we have found the right opportunity.’