TCL Communication Technology Holdings Ltd., which has U.S. headquarters in Irvine, has inked its first deal with Verizon Wireless to distribute its Alcatel brand of smartphones.
The Alcatel Avalon V, which features scratch-resistant glass and a 5.34-inch full view display, is being sold at Verizon stores and online for about $100.
TCL Communication General Manager Eric Anderson called the development a “significant milestone in our mission to bring premium, affordable, and accessible devices to the masses.”
Its Hong Kong-based parent generates annual revenue eclipsing $2 billion.
The local unit, near the Irvine Spectrum, employs about 125 people.
The Business Journal in 2016 was the first to report the unit signed a licensing deal with Waterloo, Canada-based BlackBerry Ltd. after TCL said it would halt smartphone production and focus on software.
Under that agreement, BlackBerry licenses its security software and service suite, and related assets, to TCL, which makes BlackBerry-branded mobile devices and provides customer support.
