Chinese smartphone supplier ZTE expands basketball sponsorships to five NBA teams

CHICAGO - ZTE, a famous Chinese smartphone supplier, announced Tuesday that it has become the official smartphone of the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

ZTE also announced it has resumed sponsorship of other three basketball teams, namely the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, expanding roster of basketball sponsorships to five famous NBA teams.

After seeing great success in building loyal consumers in Houston, ZTE looks to continue that momentum and forge a new partnership with the Bulls, said Cheng Lixin, chairman and CEO ZTE USA, US Branch of ZTE, on a press meet held here just before the new season of NBA to be kicked off.

The partnership between the Chicago Bulls and ZTE marks another significant step in the team's international business growth, said Chicago Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf.

ZTE is a leader in the smartphone industry and it is exciting to welcome a new partner in that category, Michael Reinsdorf added.

"We' re excited to announce ZTE as the official smartphone of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the coming season and beyond," said Len Komoroski, CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers, in his part. "With Cleveland rising as a national and global city, we have no doubt that this new technology partnership with ZTE will resonate well with our fan base."

ZTE USA, operating since 1998 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, is a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation, China's telecom equipment company.

According to the data of researcher IDC, ZTE claimed about 8 percent of America' s smartphone market in the second quarter of this year, ranking itself fourth among smartphone suppliers overall, just behind Apple, Samsung, and LG.