Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) aims at the largest sales volume of tablet PCs among Taiwan's mobile telecom carriers in 2011, and has offered a low fixed monthly rate of NT$199 (US$6.60) for data communications plus free Wi-Fi access to promote contract-bundled tablet PCs to reach its 2011 sales target of 70,000 units, according to the company.

FET said is has sold more than 40,000 tablet PCs so far.

217,000 tablet PCs were sold in Taiwan during January-July 2011, 63% through retail chains and 37% through mobile telecom carriers, FET cited local retail channels as indicating. Of the tablet PCs sold through retail chains, 53% support Wi-Fi only, and 43% support 3G and Wi-Fi, FET indicated. In particular, only 11% of tablet PCs sold through retail chains were bundled with contracts offered by telecom carriers, affording large business opportunities for FET, the company said.

In January-July 2011, there were 4.5 million handsets sold in the Taiwan market, 1.57 million units or 34.9% of which were smartphones, FET indicated. Smartphone penetration is expected to rise to 50% at the end of 2011, FET noted.