Personal Communications Devices
Personal Communications Devices, LLC, also d.b.a. PCD, was a privately held company that worked with wireless technology partners, including wireless service providers and mobile phone-manufacturers to develop, support and bring mobile phones to market in the Americas. PCD partnerships include Pantech-branded phones for Verizon and AT&T, Casio GzOne, HTC products, and most recently, Alcatel One Touch. PCD focused mainly on developing basic, low cost feature phones; with the Virgin Mobile Chaser being the only smart phone developed by the company. It debuted in December, 2011 at a retail price of $99.95 USD, and was the least expensive smart phone available on the market at that time.
Company type | Private |
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Founded | 2008 |
Headquarters | Hauppauge, New York, United States |
Key people | Philip Christopher, CEO |
Products | Telecommunications devices |
Website |
It began as the cellphone division of Audiovox in 1984, and was acquired by UTStarcom in 2004. In 2008, it became a privately owned company. The company worked with global manufacturers including Fujitsu, Huawei, Netgear, Sharp, Wistron Corporation, and ZTE; has partnerships with wireless service providers throughout the Americas including AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, Cricket, U.S. Cellular, Clear, C Spire, Telus, Claro, Cox Communications, Movilnet, Iusacell, Telefónica, Digicel, MTS and Centennial; and has introduced several first-to-market cellular devices within its 25-year history, including the introduction of the first smart phone made available to non-contract consumers.
In 2013, it was sold to Quality One Wireless.