TCL Communication, Inc. — Company Profile
Overview. TCL Communication, Inc. is part of the TCL group's mobile-device operations, associated with TCL Communication Technology Holdings Limited ("TCL Communication"), a Shenzhen-headquartered handset maker founded in March 1999. The Hong Kong-incorporated holding company listed on the HKEX (2618.HK) in September 2004, was privatized and delisted on 30 September 2016 by T.C.L. Industries Holdings (H.K.) Limited at HK$7.50 per share (total consideration about HK$3.49 billion), and was acquired by TCL Electronics Holdings Limited (1070.HK) from its parent in July 2020 for RMB 1.5 billion. TCL Communication is described in TCL's own releases as a wholly-owned subsidiary of TCL Electronics. The parent has cited roughly 13,500 employees and 2015 revenue of about HK$28.6 billion; these are dated figures and current headcount/revenue for this entity are not broken out publicly.
Products / operations. An operating company, not an NPE. TCL Communication researches, develops and manufactures smartphones, tablets and connected devices, sold under the TCL and Alcatel brands (Alcatel is licensed from Nokia) and, historically, BlackBerry-branded handsets. Its smart-connectivity line covers mobile MiFi hotspots, indoor CPE, mesh and Wi-Fi routers, wearables and locators, with sales concentrated through telecom-carrier channels in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Patent-litigation posture. Primarily a defendant/target, not an aggressor. The tracked PTAB matter reflects a defensive posture: on 26 February 2021, TCT Mobile (US), Inc., TCT Mobile (US) Holdings, Inc., Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co. Ltd. and TCL Communication, Inc. (as real parties-in-interest) petitioned for inter partes review against Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC. That petition responded to Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC v. TCT Mobile (US) Inc. et al., No. 1:20-cv-00552 (D. Del.), filed in April 2020.
Notable context. FISI is a Centerbridge Partners–backed patent assertion entity holding former BlackBerry USB charging/connectivity patents; the portfolio was licensed and litigated against numerous device makers, including Apple, Samsung, LG, Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo. In the tracked IPR (Patent 7,834,586), the Board issued a final written decision holding all challenged claims unpatentable.