Media contacts:
Andrew Elliott
ZTE USA
Tel: +1 972 375 1532
Email: andrew.elliott@zteusa.com
Maggie Habib
Atomic PR for ZTE USA
Tel: +1 310 916 6934
Email: maggie@atomicpr.com
ZTE USA Announces its First Corporate Partnership and
Consumer Marketing Push in Conjunction with the Houston Rockets
Partnership Aligns Two Global Companies with Exciting New Lineups
HOUSTON, October 5, 2013 – The Houston Rockets and ZTE USA, the fastest-growing
smartphone provider in the United States, jointly announced their first partnership, making ZTE
the official smartphone of the Houston Rockets for the 2013-14 NBA season. The partnership is
the first of its kind for ZTE globally and the first big consumer marketing push in the U.S. since
the company entered the States 15 years ago.
As part of the partnership, ZTE will have an opportunity to engage directly with the fans of the
Rockets around the world through a variety of avenues, including key Rockets events, television
and digital exposure, and customized in-game activation.
Both the Rockets and ZTE brands are debuting new, more powerful lineups this year. ZTE is
launching two new smartphones – the ZTE Grand S and the ZTE nubia 5 – while the Rockets
have a highly anticipated new roster featuring James Harden, Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lin and
Chandler Parsons. Moreover, both brands are expanding globally, with ZTE providing its
technology to more than 500 carriers and operators in more than 160 countries, and the
Rockets reaching more than 325 million people worldwide, through more than 30 different
networks throughout the world.
“The Houston Rockets are a perfect match for ZTE’s first corporate sponsorship in the U.S.
ZTE and the Rockets are both global brands bringing powerful lineups to excite both sports and
tech enthusiasts across the country,” said Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO, ZTE USA.
“Houston, and the U.S. at large, is a key market for ZTE going forward, building on our already
15-year track record of bringing robust yet affordable technology to U.S. carriers and consumers
alike.”
ZTE and the Rockets announced this partnership in a special press event just before the first
preseason game on Saturday, October 5. Houston is an important market for the Richardson,
Texas-based ZTE USA. It is one of the top wireless markets in the country and many of ZTE’s
carrier partners, including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Tracfone，MetroPCS, Boost Mobile,
Virgin Mobile, US Cellular, Cricket Wireless and Aio Wireless have large presences there.
“We welcome ZTE to the Houston Rockets family,” said Rockets CEO Tad Brown. “Together we
aspire to create a partnership that will go above and beyond a simple sponsorship, into a joint
effort that will attract fans locally and globally.”
Under the terms of the agreement, ZTE will receive corporate sponsor status, including use of
Rockets marketing rights, TV-visible branded signage, hospitality and presenting sponsorship of
tonight’s preseason opener, where the partnership and ZTE’s new devices were revealed.
Looking forward, ZTE will treat fans to giveaways and promotions throughout branded kiosks at
Toyota Center home games and through in-game activations. ZTE will also be the presenting
sponsor of the Rockets upcoming Blacktop Battle and will participate in the Season of Giving
community program.
About ZTE USA
ZTE USA (http://www.zteusa.com/), a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation, is a leading global
provider of mobile handsets, telecommunications equipment and network solutions. Operating
since 1998, ZTE USA is dedicated to making cost-efficient, quality communications technology
accessible to all. The company provides a magnitude of devices to every major US-based
carrier generating over $16 billion dollars’ worth of business for U.S.-based companies and
devotes more than 10 percent of its revenue to R&D. ZTE USA is headquartered in
Richardson, TX and operates 11 Sales Offices, 5 R&D centers and 1 Distribution Center ZTE is
ranked as the country’s fourth-largest supplier of mobile devices overall, and third-largest
supplier of prepaid devices, by independent analysts.
For more information, please connect with us on our social networks –
http://www.twitter.com/ZTE_USA and http://www.facebook.com/ZTEUSA.
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About the Rockets
Established before the 1967-68 NBA season, the Rockets began calling Houston home prior to
the 1971-72 season. The 2013-14 campaign marks the 47th season of Rockets basketball.
Under the ownership of Leslie Alexander, the Rockets brought Houston its first two major
professional sports titles by winning back-to-back NBA Finals in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Off the
court, the Rockets franchise has set the standard for community involvement. For more
information, please visit www.rockets.com.
~ A NEW AGE ~