IBM and Hisense in ITS cooperation deal

Right: Officials from IBM and Hisense Network Technology Company celebrate the ITS cooperation agreement between the two companies

IBM has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Chinese intelligent transport systems (ITS) specialist Hisense Network Technology Company (HNTC), part of the Chinese electronics manufacturer Hisense Group, to undertake ITS research and development.

Hisense claims this is one of the first formal cooperation deals between a Chinese enterprise and an international corporation in the field of intelligent transport systems. Under the agreement, the two sides will work closely together on software, hardware, consulting services, integration and maintenance services in China’s ITS market.

Jeffrey Rhoda, vice-president of IBM Asia-Pacific region, says, “We are very happy to cooperate with Hisense, as IBM saw the leading role of Hisense’s ITS technology, with a 20% market share of the total Chinese Intelligent Transportation industry.”

In the emerging Bus Rapid Transit market, Hisense’s market share is as high as 70%. Hisense has also developed its own Hicon traffic signal control system, which has won wide recognition in the nation.

HNTC was established in 1998 as a subsidiary of the Hisense Group, and has developed a series of products including public transport intelligent dispatching and media operation and management systems; urban public security and traffic control centre comprehensive information systems; self-adaptive traffic light control system; and e-police and mobile vehicle checking systems. These products are currently being used by many municipalities in China, including: Qingdao, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Zhongshan, Liuzhou and Hohhot.

29 May 2008