Telstra plans to end its five year exclusive handset distribution partnership with Brightstar Logistics, according to newspaper reports.
The Australian today said the carrier planned to bring handset sourcing arrangements in-house next year as part of Telstra's company-wide strategic review of third-party contracts.
Brightstar told CRN that it will no longer provide strategic sourcing services to Telstra from March 2011.
But, the company said it would continue to be a "key partner to Telstra", delivering supply chain optimisation services for mobile/wireless devices which includes channel operations, product life cycle management, and returns management.
Brightstar Logistics launched in Australia in 2005 as the local subsidiary of Miami-based Brightstar corporation.
In March 2006 it signed an exclusive handset agreement with Telstra which included the management of operations of Telstra's handset supply chain.
However, in April the company was caught up in legal battle with finance regulator ASIC after it attempted to be excused from disclosing its financial details as required by law for companies that have more than $10 million revenue and more than $5 million in assets.
The Australian has reported that the company lodged statements with ASIC showing its lucrative contract with Telstra had netted it pre-tax profits in excess of 30 percent of turnover for the past two calendar years. Brightstar had built up a business paying nearly $2.2 billion to equipment suppliers.
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