http://www.mcuk.panasonic.co.uk/

Opened in 1988, the European design and manufacture centre for Panasonic mobile phones is located at Thatcham in the UK. Known as Matsushita Communications Industrial UK Ltd (MCUK), the factory initially manufactured analogue phones but quickly adapted to the production of GSM phones for export to over 80 countries world-wide.

With the rapid take-off of mobile phones, production has expanded by more than 500%. In 1999 a new £20 million R&D facility was opened at Thatcham, along with a logistics and distribution centre at Portsmouth.

MCUK employs the latest in production processes enabling it to consistently design and manufacture high quality user-friendly mobile phones. The company plans to double the number of its design engineers to ensure Panasonic remains at the forefront of technology. Panasonic has been involved in 3G mobile communications since 1988 with the W-CDMA standardisation process and field trials since 1998. The company is well placed to become the leading supplier of UMTS handsets and aims to be the first manufacturer to supply 3G handsets in Japan in 2001 and in Europe 2002.

The latest range of handsets including the GD92, GD52 and GD93, reconfirms Panasonic"s commitment to being the masters of design in leading edge technology.

For further information, please visit our web site or contact Joanne Boden on +44 1635 871466.