The third largest smartphone seller in China, ZTE Corp, had laid out plan to become the one of the top three handset companies in the the next three years. It would increase investments in products, branding and distribution channels, according to Executive Vice President He Shiyou in an interview in Taipei.

ZTE became one of the top ten in the world by selling off handsets less than USD100. After this, it would be looking to sell higher end devices for sales growth. The company intends to get 60% of its total income from midrange to high end phones priced above CNY1000 or USD245 in the next three years, as confirmed by EVP He.

In its home grounds of China, the company is set to reap the benefits of the introduction of 4G wireless sevice in the world's largest smartphone market. In the United States, ZTE had entered into a sponsorship agreement with the NBA's Houston Rocket to increase the Chinese business profile as it sells off two new high end devices in the region.

He, who spoke before a media event scheduled to coincide with an exhibition game in Taipeh, "The Rockets partnership is expected to raise ZTE's US and global brand awareness. The US market is top priority and expected to be biggest market for ZTE in two years."