The InformationWeek -- Blogs
Over The Air

Mobility Breifing Center -- Sponsored by Windows Mobile
Topics:   Mobile

  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • Print this page Print this page
  • Bookmark and Share
  • icon

HTC: The Little Smartphone Maker That Could


Posted by Eric Zeman, Dec 11, 2007 10:56 AM

Begin Love Fest. HTC deserves some kudos. This innovative maker of Windows Mobile smartphones from Taiwan saw its best month ever in November thanks, in part, to a smartphone called the Touch. It also is the first OEM to announce it will make Android handsets for Google. HTC is on a roll, folks.

Things are really looking up for HTC. It posted sales of $14.5 million in November, up from $10.6 million in November 2006. Simple math tells us that's a whopping 33% jump in sales. HTC also is doing better for the year, swelling 9% to $107 million through November. Not bad at all.

HTC has brought numerous Windows Mobile 6 handsets to market this year, notably the Touch and Shadow.

The Touch was introduced worldwide back in May, and featured a touch screen user interface and speedy HSDPA 3G. HTC bowed a newer version with GPS on board this fall, as well as a CDMA version for Sprint in the United States. This smartphone is selling just as well as a certain product from Apple, and it received zero hype in the media. Where Apple's phone has been heralded in every publication known to man, the HTC Touch is the little smartphone that could. It is selling well despite the fact that no one (except for maybe me) is really talking about it.

The Shadow is another innovative handset. It's a slider that also uses WinMo6 and is compact and hosts a good feature list.

What sets these two handsets apart is that HTC worked with its partners to create brand new user interface overlays that sit on top of the basic Windows Mobile UI. Called Touch for the Touch, and Neo for the Shadow, these vastly improve the usability of Windows Mobile (which is a whole different story). This has led to the phones' burgeoning popularity.

On top of the success of its smartphones, HTC already is looking ahead, and has signed up for Google's Open Handset Alliance. It also said it will make two or three Android-based handsets next year.

If HTC keeps up this pace, 2007 will undoubtedly be a banner year. I am already looking forward to what HTC will do in 2008.

End Love Fest.

« Join Us For GridTalk With The Author Of 'The Entrepreneur's Guide To Second Life' | Main | 'Tis The Season For Mudslinging »



Sign up now for the weekly InformationWeek Blog Newsletter.


This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.

Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.

Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.




Mobile Video


Sign Up For The Over The Air Newsletter
Every Friday, our experts and analysts explore the business, strategy, and management issues most important to mobile and wireless technology.

Sign up for our free, weekly newsletter today!

Newsletter Archives




  1. First Firmware Update For The BlackBerry Storm Blows Into Town
  2. Alcatel-Lucent's Big Plans
  3. Google Gives Windows Users A Gmail Gadget For The Desktop
  4. Nokia Unveils The N97, Its Real iPhone Competitor


  1. Amazon Launches Experimental Mobile Shopping Feature
  2. BlackBerry Maker Offers $53 Million For Certicom
  3. Cyber Monday Web Traffic Reports Mixed
  4. Yahoo, CBS Radio Agree To Online Music Deal
  5. MySpace Brings Video To Cell Phones
  6. Infineon's Outlook Dire As Downturn, Qimonda Weigh

 
 

  Ars Technica
Boing Boing
Channel 9 Forums
CRN Blogs
Dr.Dobb's Portal: Blogs
Engadget
Gizmodo
GrokLaw
  Lifehacker
Schneier on Security
Slashdot
TechCrunch
Techdirt
Techmeme
Valleywag

  SEPTEMBER 2008
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
APRIL 2008
MARCH 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
  JANUARY 2008
DECEMBER 2007
NOVEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007
AUGUST 2007
JULY 2007
JUNE 2007