History & Milestones

VTech’s story is about turning a passion for electronics into innovative consumer products that improve people’s lives.

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1976 - 1981

Seizing on the Microchip Revolution

The 1970s saw a revolutionary invention – the microprocessor. Two engineers recognised its significance at the time and in 1976 started what would become VTech. By 1980 they had used the technology to create an entirely new consumer product category – electronic learning products.

1976

Video Technology Limited

Video Technology Limited founded by Allan Wong and Stephen Leung

1977

First Product

Developed our first product, a home TV game console

First Year Sales

Started operations, with turnover of less than US$1 million in the first year

1978

First LED Game

Launched our first portable LED game based on a single-chip microprocessor

1979

First portable LCD Game

Launched our first portable LCD game

1980

First Electronic Learning Product

Launched our first electronic learning product, the Lesson One (book type version)

1981

Lesson One

Introduced a tabletop version of the Lesson One, which became a very successful first generation electronic learning product

CreatiVision

Launched our first hybrid computer, the CreatiVision, featuring an integrated PC and video game console

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1982 - 1987

Overseas Expansion

VTech’s vision was always to be a global brand and in 1982 we started our operation in the US. Two years later, we set up contract manufacturing services and began expanding our manufacturing capacity, while also opening a sales subsidiary in the UK. By now VTech was the largest supplier of electronic learning aids in the US.

1982

First Overseas Operation

Established our first overseas sales subsidiary in the US

1983

First PC Range

Introduced our first PC range, the Laser 100, based on custom integrated circuit (ASIC) chips designed in-house

Laser 3000

Launched our first Apple II compatible computer, the Laser 3000

1984

Contract Manufacturing

Began to manufacture satellite receivers on a contract manufacturing basis for the US market

1985

Laser 310

Introduced one of our PCs, the Laser 310, to mainland China for the first time

1986

Listing in Hong Kong

Listed in Hong Kong in June under the name “Video Technology International (Holdings) Limited” by way of introduction

Electronic Learning Aids

Became the largest manufacturer of electronic learning aids sold in the US

1987

Expansion into Europe

Established our first European sales subsidiary in the UK

Talking Whiz Kid

Introduced our first electronic learning aid using a laptop design, the Talking Whiz Kid

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1988 - 1999

Building a Global Brand

With business growing fast, we relocated our manufacturing to mainland China and opened an R&D centre in Canada. Following the development of a fully digital 900MHz cordless telephone in 1991, telecommunication products became our third core business. Now with dual listing in Hong Kong and London and an ADR programme, the Group was well on its way to being a global brand.

1988

First Mainland China Manufacturing Facilities

Opened our first manufacturing facilities in mainland China, in Houjie town, Dongguan city, Guangdong province

R&D Centre

Established an R&D centre in Vancouver, Canada

Socrates

Launched the Socrates, our first educational video system with wireless remote control

1989

Preschool Market

Entered the preschool market with two very successful products, Small Talk and Little Smart Driver

1990

Privatisation

Privatised “Video Technology International (Holdings) Limited” in October

Laser PC

Expanded distribution of our Laser PCs to the US

1991

Listing in UK

Changed our name to “VTech Holdings Limited” and listed on the London Stock Exchange

Tropez

Introduced the world’s first fully digital 900MHz cordless telephone in the US

1992

Re-listing in Hong Kong

Re-listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, establishing a dual primary listing with London

1993

ADR Programme

Established an American Depositary Receipt programme

Capsela

Acquired the Capsela brand of scientific and construction toys

1994

First Electronic Dictionary Organiser

Launched our first electronic dictionary organiser, the CV6880

1995

LT84X Subnotebook

The LT84X Series Subnotebook won the grand prize in the Machinery and Equipment Design category at the Hong Kong Awards for Industry

1996

900MHz Cordless Phone

Became the first in the industry to introduce 900MHz cordless phones at a retail price below US$100 in the US

1.8GHz DECT Cordless Phone

Launched our first 1.8GHz DECT cordless phone in Europe

1997

Second Mainland China Manufacturing Facilities

Opened our second manufacturing site in mainland China, in Liaobu town, Dongguan city, Guangdong province

PC Business

Divested our PC manufacturing business in Hong Kong and PC distribution network in Europe

1998

Market Leader

Became the market leader in North America and Europe for ELPs. The ten best-selling electronic learning aids in the UK and the five best-selling ELPs in the US were all VTech products

R&D Centre

Established an R&D centre in Calgary, Canada

1999

2.4GHz Cordless Phone

Completed the development of a 2.4GHz global cordless phone platform

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2000 - 2015

World Beating Technology

The Lucent acquisition in 2000 saw VTech become the US market leader in fixed-line residential phones. By the decade’s end, having branched out into commercial phones, we were the world’s largest manufacturer of cordless phones. Meanwhile, V.Smile became our most successful ever electronic learning product. VTech was now gaining international recognition, in 2006 being named to BusinessWeek’s “InfoTech 100”.

2000

Acquisition

Acquired Lucent Technologies’ consumer phone business, with the right to use the AT&T brand in connection with the manufacture and sale of wireline telephones and accessories

2001

Business Turnaround

Achieved a turnaround in profitability within months, following a successful restructuring

2002

New Corporate Identity

Launched a new corporate identity as part of a strategic plan to strengthen our marketing

First 5.8GHz Cordless Phone

Introduced the world’s first 5.8GHz cordless phone in the US

2003

5.8GHz Cordless Phone

Launched the world’s most advanced 5.8GHz cordless phone handset with full colour LCD display

2004

V.Smile TV Learning System

Launched the V.Smile TV Learning System, one of the most successful electronic learning products in our history

2005

Third Mainland China Manufacturing Facilities

Opened our third manufacturing facilities in mainland China, in Qingyuan city, Guangdong province

Best Overall Toy of the Year

V.Smile was named “The Best Overall Toy of the Year” in the US and won other top global awards

2006

Anniversary

Celebrated our 30th anniversary

InfoTech 100

BusinessWeek named VTech in the InfoTech 100

2007

InfoTech 100

For the second consecutive year, BusinessWeek named VTech among the top 100 information technology companies worldwide

2008

Delisting in UK

Delisted from London, maintaining our primary listing in Hong Kong

Record Revenue

Reported our third consecutive year of record revenue and profit

2009

InfoTech 100

BusinessWeek ranked VTech 54th globally, and first among Hong Kong companies, in its InfoTech 100 list

Enterprise Phones

Introduced enterprise phones for small and medium sized businesses in the US

2010

Overall Best Managed HK Company – Medium Cap

Named “Overall Best Managed Company in Hong Kong – Medium Cap” in the AsiaMoney Awards 2009

ELP New Logo

Introduced a new logo for electronic learning products to strengthen our brand

Largest Manufacturer

Became the world’s largest manufacturer of cordless telephones

2011

InnoTab

Launched our first educational tablet for children, the InnoTab

Avant 5000

Introduced the world’s first CAT-iq 2.0 certified handset, the Avant 5000

2012

Hospitality Phones

Expanded into the hospitality industry and completed installation of SIP phones in the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in March

2013

Top Player

Became the no. 1 player in the overall Infant Toys category in France, the UK and Germany

Playset Category

Expanded to the playset category with the introduction of the Go! Go! Smart Wheels

2014

No. 1 Manufacturer

Became the no. 1 manufacturer in the Infant and Preschool Electronic Learning category in the US

ErisStation

Introduced the ErisStation, our first conference phone, with four wireless microphones

2015

Constituent Stock

Added as a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index and FTSE4Good Global Index

Toy of the Year

The Go! Go! Smart Animals Zoo Explorers Playset won the “2015 Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year Award” in the US

New CMS Factory Building

A new factory building built for contract manufacturing services commenced operations in July, adding 25% to manufacturing capacity

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2016 - Present

Investing in the Future

VTech’s 40th anniversary in 2016 saw more investment in the future. Telecommunication products expanded into new product areas, such as baby monitors, its R&D horizons broadened by the acquisition of Gigaset’s assets and Snom. A new electronic learning products brand was also added, as we acquired US edutainment company LeapFrog. As a global top 50 electronic manufacturing services provider, we are diversifying our manufacturing base globally and driving towards industry 4.0.

2016

Anniversary

Celebrated our 40th anniversary

Acquisition

Acquired LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., a leading developer of educational entertainment for children

Acquisition

Acquired Snom Technology GmbH, a pioneer and a leading brand of professional and enterprise VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephones

2017

Record Revenue

Achieved record revenue, surpassing the US$2 billion mark

CMS Own Facilities

Contract manufacturing services established its own facilities in Liaobu town, Dongguan city for manufacturing high precision metal tooling and parts

2018

Record Revenue

Achieved another record high revenue

Top Selling Toy of the Year

The KidiZoom Smartwatch DX assortment was the Top Selling Toy of the Year (Youth Electronics) in the US and the Kidi line of products was the Top Selling Youth Electronics Property in Europe (EU7)

No. 1 Baby Monitor Brand

VTech became the no. 1 baby monitor brand by dollar sales in the US

First Malaysia Manufacturing Facilities

Acquired our first manufacturing facilities in Malaysia, in Muar

2019

MSCI ESG Rating

Received a rating of AA in the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment

Vendor of the Year

Received the “Vendor of the Year 2018” award and “Toy Supplier of the Year” award presented by Target and Walmart respectively in the US

2020

Second Malaysia Manufacturing Facilities

Acquired our second manufacturing facilities in Malaysia, in Penang

Go! Go! Cory Carson

The animated series Go! Go! Cory Carson, premiered on Netflix globally in January, followed by the launch of playsets and vehicles featuring the characters

CMS NPI centre

A New Product Introduction (NPI) centre for CMS is opened in our R&D centre in Shenzhen

2021

Eco-friendly Toys

Introduced our first range of eco-friendly electronic learning products

LeapFrog Baby Monitor

Launched our first LeapFrog branded baby monitor line

Acquisition

Acquired our first manufacturing facilities in Mexico, in Tecate

2022

Record ELPs Revenue

Reported record revenue for electronic learning products business, surpassing US$1 billion in sales

Top E-commerce Award

Won “Top E-commerce US Market Share Gain (Category of Baby Monitors)” given by the NPD Group, Inc

No. 1 Contract Manufacturer

Named as the world’s no. 1 contract manufacturer of professional audio equipment in 2021

2023

New Regional Office

Opened a new sales office for electronic learning products in Italy

Snom M500 Pro

Introduced Snom M500 Pro, an industry first, cloud-accessible and provision-capable SIP based key system unit

Industry 4.0 Laboratory

Opened an i4 (Industry 4.0) laboratory for contract manufacturing services in its manufacturing facilities in mainland China

2024

Acquisition

Acquired the assets of Gigaset Communications GmbH, a global leader in communication technology.

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