and shows how the future of smartphone design might evolved. In 2021, ZTE announced a new flagship device, the Axon 30 Ultra, focusing on high-end camera experience. Windows Phone At Mobile World Congress 2014 in Spain, Microsoft announced that ZTE is the latest hardware partner of Windows Phone platform. Customers During the 2000s, the majority of ZTE's customers were developing country mobile network operators, but ZTE products see use in developed countries as well. The UK's Vodafone, Canadian Telus and Fido, Australia's Telstra, as well as France Telecom have all purchased equipment from ZTE. Many Chinese companies are also ZTE customers, including China Netcom, China Mobile, China Satcom, China Telecom, and China Unicom. ZTE began to release smartphones in the United States in 2011. The company elected to focus its efforts on low-cost products for discount and prepaid wireless carriers, including devices with premium features typically associated with high-end products, such as large high-resolution screens and fingerprint readers. Sponsorship In May 2016, ZTE became the co-sponsor of German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. Since 2015, several U.S. National Basketball Association teams have had sponsorship deals with ZTE, including the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks. Controversies Bribes for contracts Norway Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor, one of the world's largest mobile operators, banned ZTE from "participating in tenders and new business opportunities for 6 months because of an alleged breach of its code of conduct in a procurement proceeding" during a five-month time span ending in March 2009. Philippines Contracts with ZTE to build a broadband network for the Philippine government reportedly involved kickbacks to government officials. The project was later cancelled. Surveillance system sale In December 2010, ZTE sold systems for eavesdropping on phone and Internet communications to the government-controlled Telecommunication Company of Iran. This system may help Iran monitor and track political dissidents. Security At least one ZTE mobile phone (sold as the ZTE Score in the United States by Cricket and MetroPCS) can be remotely accessed by anyone with an easily obtained password. ZTE, as well as Huawei, has faced scrutiny by the U.S. federal government over allegations that Chinese government surveillance could be performed through its handsets and infrastructure equipment. In 2012, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued a report recommending that the government be prohibited from purchasing equipment from the firms, citing them as possible threats to national security. A ban on government