China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) will equip police in two provinces with smart phones based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile software starting in December, according to Beijing handset maker TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology.

TechFaith revealed few details of the MPS handset contract for Pocket PC phones, an apparent reference to Windows Mobile 2005 Pocket PC Edition. The company, which will design and manufacture the handsets, said they will be equipped with GPS capabilities and a scanner for identification cards. The phones will be used for "information collection and synchronization," TechFaith said.

Software developed for MPS by Shenzhen Security Software Science and Technology Development will be installed on the phones.

Other details, such as the type of cellular technology used, the number of handsets to be manufactured, and even the names of the provinces where the phones will be used were not disclosed by TechFaith. The company also did not say when the contract had been signed or how much it was worth.

While China has yet to issue licenses for 3G mobile services, there is a possibility that the phones ordered for the Chinese police could use China's homegrown 3G technology, called Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access.

TD-SCDMA trials are underway in several Chinese cities as part of government and industry efforts to prove the technology works. TechFaith is working on TD-SCDMA handsets and the company announced in August that three contracts for handsets based on the 3G technology had been signed, with a fourth contract due to be signed during the third quarter.

TechFaith also said it expects the first revenue from TD-SCDMA handset sales to come during the fourth quarter.

A TechFaith spokeswoman in Beijing was not available for comment.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.