Taiwan has the greatest OEMs in the world. They can take your design and turn it around faster than anyone.

But Taiwan is not known for its equipment designs. Taiwan doesn't dominate the brand market.

That may be about to change with the Universal.

High Tech Computer of Taiwan has sold versions of it to most major European cellular outfits. The Windows Mobile device features a QWERTY keyboard which can fold into the device, making it a touchscreen PDA. It also has two cameras (one still, one video), Bluetooth and WiFi standard.

The company got its chance because carriers are demanding that their names go on phones, not manufacturers. High Tech quickly acceded to this. But the fact is that the Vodafone VPA IV, the T-Mobile MDA IV and the Orange SPV 3G are basically the same thing. Cingular is expected to take the phone in the U.S., because it runs on its coming UMTS network.

The phone is getting coverage, but the Taiwan angle isn't getting enough play, in my opinion. The mobile market is dominated by Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, and Motorola. The idea of a major player from Taiwan doesn't occur to many people.

But, by embracing both Microsoft and the carriers, Taiwan has seized its chance. Others will do the marketing, others will have the brand name, but everyone who gets one of these new phones will know exactly where it came from.

A lot is riding on this.