Skip to content

Chinese telecommunications and smartphone brand known for early dual-SIM mobile phones.

Last updated October 29, 2026

AI crawler reads

4requests

1companies
  • Anthropic4
Profile
2
Controversies
2
JSON · MD
0
First read
Nov 4, 2026
Latest read
Nov 4, 2026

From this site's server log

Overview

Coolpad is the principal telecommunications and smartphone brand associated with Coolpad Group Limited, a company headquartered in Shenzhen and incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The group developed from Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific (Shenzhen), a business established in 1993 as a Sino-foreign joint venture. Its early activities centered on pagers and paging systems before it entered mobile-phone manufacturing in 2002. The company became recognized in China for combining mobile communications hardware with features that were uncommon in the domestic market at the time. In 2003, it produced a Chinese CDMA1X smartphone with a color display and handwriting input. It subsequently developed phones with two SIM slots, culminating in a 2005 handset capable of operating GSM and CDMA connections simultaneously. This dual-SIM and dual-standby capability became one of the most important associations with the Coolpad name and helped distinguish the brand in a rapidly expanding Chinese mobile-phone market. The corporate vehicle behind the business was originally named China Wireless Technologies Limited. Its shares were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2004, and the company was renamed Coolpad Group Limited at the end of 2013. During the early 2010s, Coolpad was regarded as one of the leading Chinese mobile-phone brands, alongside Lenovo, Huawei and ZTE. Its products were distributed through mobile operators, retail channels and, increasingly, online stores. The company had a particularly important relationship with China Mobile, although it began expanding its online sales activity as a major tie-in arrangement with the carrier approached its end in 2014. Coolpad's business later became closely connected with Chinese internet and technology companies. In December 2014, it established Coolpad E-commerce as a joint venture with Qihoo 360. In 2015, founder and major shareholder Guo Deying sold shares to entities associated with Jia Yueting, the founder of LeEco, making Jia a major shareholder and later the largest shareholder according to the ownership history described in public references. Coolpad and LeEco operated as related but legally distinct businesses, and LeEco's LeMobile was also active in smartphones. Coolpad subsequently sold a majority stake in the subsidiary operating the ivvi smartphone brand to SuperD in 2016 while retaining a minority interest. The LeEco-related period was accompanied by declining market influence, falling smartphone sales and corporate-governance difficulties. Research cited in the company's historical record indicated that neither Coolpad nor LeMobile was a leading brand in China's smartphone market during 2016 or the first quarter of 2017. Trading in Coolpad shares was suspended from March 2017 while the company worked to provide information requested by its external auditor concerning the 2016 financial statements. Jia Yueting resigned as chairman and a director in November 2017 and later disposed of his remaining shares. Coolpad also explored non-handset activities, including a proposed redevelopment of its former Shenzhen headquarters into a mixed-use real-estate project. After the change in ownership and management, Coolpad sought to rebuild its handset business, including by emphasizing sales in the United States. The company has continued to be identified primarily with affordable and value-oriented smartphones, although its current product range, market position, ownership structure and leadership require verification from up-to-date corporate disclosures. Its historical importance rests on early Chinese smartphone innovation, especially dual-SIM technology, rather than on a presently dominant share of the global handset market.

History

Coolpad's corporate history began with the incorporation of Yulong Computer Telecommunication Scientific (Shenzhen) Co. in April 1993. Yulong was formed as a Sino-foreign joint venture involving Shenzhen University Culture Technology Services and the Hong Kong company Dickman Enterprises. Guo Deying, an academic associated with Shenzhen University, became Yulong's first chairman and left the university to lead the company. The business initially produced pagers and paging systems, reflecting the communications technology market of the 1990s. Ownership was consolidated during the late 1990s and early 2000s. A stake originally held by Shenzhen University was sold in 1999 to members of Guo's family, and the remaining interest held through Dickman Enterprises was acquired in 2001. This left Guo and his family in control of Yulong. The company entered mobile-phone manufacturing in 2002, establishing the technical and commercial foundation for the Coolpad brand. Coolpad's early handset development focused on network compatibility and features suited to China's fragmented mobile market. In 2003, the company produced what public historical accounts describe as China's first CDMA1X-based smartphone with a color display and handwriting input. A dual-SIM phone followed in 2004. In 2005, Coolpad introduced a handset able to operate GSM and CDMA networks simultaneously, a development widely associated with the brand's early leadership in dual-SIM technology. These products helped Coolpad build a reputation for engineering features that were not yet common among competing handset makers. To organize the business internationally, China Wireless Technologies Limited was incorporated in the Cayman Islands and became the listed holding company for Yulong. Its shares were floated on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2004. The listed group later used Coolpad as its principal consumer-facing brand and formally adopted the name Coolpad Group Limited at the end of 2013. During the early 2010s, Coolpad was one of the prominent Chinese mobile-phone brands, competing with domestic companies such as Lenovo, Huawei and ZTE as well as international brands including Samsung, Apple and Nokia. Distribution was strongly influenced by carrier relationships. Coolpad sold through China Mobile and other channels, while the approaching end of a major China Mobile tie-in arrangement encouraged the group to expand online retail in 2014. The company also attempted to combine handset manufacturing with internet-platform partnerships. In December 2014, it established Coolpad E-commerce in a joint venture with Qihoo 360. The middle of the decade brought a major ownership and strategic transition. In 2015, Guo Deying sold part of his Coolpad stake to an entity associated with Jia Yueting of LeEco. Jia became the second-largest shareholder and subsequently the largest shareholder, although the relevant holdings were held through offshore entities and the relationship between Coolpad and LeEco's mainland businesses was legally distinct. LeEco's own LeMobile brand operated in the same broad handset sector, creating both strategic links and potential overlap. Coolpad's reported performance also weakened: public accounts cited a sharp revenue decline in 2015, with weak 3G smartphone sales only partly offset by growth in 4G products and other gains. The company continued restructuring. In December 2016, it sold 80 percent of the subsidiary responsible for the ivvi smartphone brand to SuperD and kept a 20 percent stake. Market research cited in the historical record indicated that Coolpad and LeMobile were no longer among China's leading smartphone brands in 2016 or early 2017. The group also entered related-party transactions involving mobile-phone components and associated companies. Trading in Coolpad shares was suspended from March 2017 while the company addressed an auditor's request for information about its 2016 financial statements. In 2017, Coolpad explored redevelopment of its former Shenzhen headquarters, Coolpad Information Harbor, as part of a cooperation agreement with a property developer. Jia Yueting resigned as chairman and a director in November, and former chief executive Liu Jiangfeng and another non-executive director also left the board. Jia disposed of his remaining Coolpad shares in January 2018. Coolpad subsequently emphasized overseas handset sales, including the United States. Its vice-chairman and chief executive Jiang Chao appeared at the Consumer Electronics Show before being removed from the board and related positions in January 2019. The company later reported that its net loss for 2018 was lower than the loss reported for 2017, although revenue also fell. Coolpad remains principally associated with mobile devices, but its current ownership, management and operating position require confirmation from current company filings.

  • 2017

    Share trading suspension

    [1]

    Trading in Coolpad shares is suspended while information requested by the external auditor is addressed.

  • 2017

    Jia Yueting leaves the board

    [1]

    Jia Yueting resigns as chairman and director, followed by other board departures.

  • 2016

    Majority sale of ivvi subsidiary

    [1]

    Coolpad sells 80 percent of the subsidiary operating ivvi to SuperD.

  • 2015

    LeEco-linked ownership transition

    [1]

    Jia Yueting acquires a substantial Coolpad interest and becomes a major shareholder.

  • 2014

    Coolpad E-commerce joint venture

    [1]

    Coolpad forms a 55-45 joint venture with Qihoo 360 to operate Coolpad E-commerce.

  • 2013

    China Wireless Technologies becomes Coolpad Group

    [1]

    The listed holding company formally changes its name to Coolpad Group Limited.

  • 2005

    GSM/CDMA simultaneous dual-network handset

    [1]

    Coolpad develops a handset capable of simultaneous operation on GSM and CDMA networks.

  • 2004

    Dual-SIM phone and Hong Kong listing

    [1]

    The business develops a dual-SIM phone, while China Wireless Technologies lists its shares in Hong Kong.

  • 2003

    Early Chinese CDMA1X smartphone

    [1]

    Yulong produces a CDMA1X smartphone with a color screen and handwriting input.

  • 2002

    Yulong enters mobile phones

    [1]

    The company moves from pagers and paging systems into mobile-phone manufacturing.

Products and positioning

Value-oriented and affordable mobile devices, with historical differentiation through dual-SIM functionality and operator partnerships.

  • Smartphones · 2002

    Coolpad smartphones

    Coolpad's principal product line comprised smartphones sold under the Coolpad name. The company developed devices for Chinese carrier channels, retail distribution and later online and overseas sales. Its range included early CDMA and 4G products and was generally associated with affordable pricing and feature-focused hardware.

  • Mobile phones · 2004

    Dual-SIM and dual-standby phones

    Dual-SIM capability became Coolpad's best-known historical product innovation. The company introduced a two-SIM handset in the mid-2000s and later produced a device that could use GSM and CDMA networks simultaneously. These products addressed customers who needed multiple numbers, carriers or network standards in one handset.

  • Consumer electronics

    Coolpad tablets and smart hardware

    Public descriptions of the brand include tablets and other smart-hardware products alongside its core mobile-phone business. The available reference material does not identify a complete current catalogue or specific models, so the scope and present status of these lines should be verified through current product disclosures.

  • Smartphone sub-brand

    ivvi

    ivvi was operated through Shenzhen Coolpad Mobile Technology, a Coolpad subsidiary. In 2016, Coolpad sold 80 percent of that subsidiary to SuperD and retained a 20 percent interest, reducing its direct control of the sub-brand.

Controversies

  • 2021

    KPN files patent lawsuits against six companies

    In January 2021, KPN filed six lawsuits alleging patent infringement against Xiaomi, Coolpad, BLU Products, Bullitt Group, Acer and u-blox. According to the source report, the suits claimed that these companies infringed at least two KPN patents. The event was reported as a set of legal actions initiated by KPN against the six named companies, with Coolpad among the defendants. No further details on the specific patents, the jurisdictions of the lawsuits, or their outcomes were provided in the source summary.

  • 2014

    CoolReaper handset backdoor allegations

    Palo Alto Networks announced that it had found a backdoor on many Coolpad handsets and named the software CoolReaper. The disclosure raised cybersecurity and user-privacy concerns surrounding affected devices.

Read more

Brand decisions

  • 2018

    Increase focus on United States smartphone salesStrategy

    Background

    Coolpad's influence in the Chinese smartphone market had declined, and the company was seeking alternative growth opportunities.

    Action taken

    Coolpad shifted emphasis toward selling phones in the United States.

    Aftermath

    The reference material does not provide sufficient detail to evaluate the long-term commercial outcome of this shift.

  • 2017

    Explore headquarters redevelopmentStrategy

    Background

    Coolpad sought to make use of its former Shenzhen headquarters site during a period of business and ownership transition.

    Action taken

    The group signed a cooperation agreement with a property developer to redevelop Coolpad Information Harbor.

    Aftermath

    The agreement marked an expansion beyond handset manufacturing into a real-estate-related project.

  • 2016

    Divest majority control of ivviM&A

    Background

    Coolpad was restructuring its portfolio as competition intensified in China's smartphone market.

    Action taken

    The group sold 80 percent of Shenzhen Coolpad Mobile Technology, which operated ivvi, to SuperD and retained 20 percent.

    Aftermath

    Coolpad reduced its direct control of the ivvi smartphone business while maintaining a minority interest.

  • 2015

    Accept LeEco-linked investmentM&A

    Background

    Coolpad faced a changing smartphone market and sought closer links with internet and technology businesses.

    Action taken

    Founder Guo Deying sold part of his Coolpad stake to an offshore entity associated with Jia Yueting and LeEco.

    Aftermath

    Jia became a major shareholder and later the largest shareholder, while Coolpad and LeEco's handset businesses operated in related but distinct corporate structures.

  • 2014

    Expand online distributionStrategy

    Background

    A major tie-in sales arrangement with China Mobile was approaching termination, increasing the importance of alternative channels.

    Action taken

    Coolpad began selling products through online stores and also formed an e-commerce joint venture with Qihoo 360.

    Aftermath

    The move broadened the group's distribution strategy, although later market research showed that Coolpad's domestic smartphone position weakened.

Recent events

  • Reported

    Coolpad offers a launch discount on COOL 20 Pro[4]

    Coolpad listed the COOL 20 Pro 6GB+128GB model at 1,799 yuan with an introductory 200-yuan discount, bringing the purchase price to 1,599 yuan.

  • Reported

    KPN files patent lawsuits against six companies[3]

    KPN started six lawsuits against Xiaomi, Coolpad, BLU Products, Bullitt Group, Acer and u-blox, alleging that they infringed at least two KPN patents.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Coolpad launches Cool S in Nepal[5]

    Coolpad launched the Cool S mid-range smartphone in Nepal this week.

  • Reported

    Coolpad launches its first lightweight wireless waveguide AR glasses[6]

    Coolpad announced the launch of its first ultra-lightweight wireless waveguide AR glasses, priced from 2,999 yuan.

  • Reported

    Coolpad launches industrial 5G router module[7]

    Coolpad announced the launch of its first industrial-internet product, a 5G industrial router module with an embedded Wi-Fi 6 chip and support for multiple interface types.

  • Reported

    Coolpad partners with Borqs for 5G product development[8]

    Coolpad announced that it is working with Borqs Technologies on 5G product development and adoption by global carriers, with a focus on the US mobile-carrier market.

  • Reported

    Coolpad and THX announce audio technology partnership[9]

    Coolpad announced that it is working with THX and will equip devices with THX technology starting with new releases in 2020, offering a three-dimensional audio experience.

  • Reported

    Coolpad introduces Legacy 5G smartphone[10]

    Coolpad introduced the Legacy 5G smartphone. The article said the exact price had not been revealed and that the phone would be sold for under $400 in the second half of 2020 in the United States.

  • Reported

    Coolpad and Pixelworks announced a partnership[11]

    Coolpad and Pixelworks announced a partnership to incorporate Pixelworks visual processing technology into future Coolpad devices. The first product designed with the technology was planned for release later in 2020.

Read more

Sources18 sources

Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/coolpad · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled