Today HTC made its first official response to the lawsuit Apple filed against it earlier this month. In the response, the company throws down its gauntlet with a long list of "firsts" that it has brought to the industry. That includes mobile computing products that reach as far back as 1998.If I recall correctly, Apple killed off the Newton back in 1998. That was the same year HTC delivered the very first Windows-based PDA (personal data assistant). Other firsts that HTC claims it has launched include: First Windows Phone (June 2002); First 3G CDMA EVDO smartphone (October 2005); First gesture-based smartphone (June 2007); First Google Android smartphone (October 2008); and the First 4G WIMAX smartphone (November 2008).

(Wait a minute, HTC launched a WiMax smartphone back in 2008???)

The point of all this is to make it clear to Apple that HTC has been an active innovator of mobile technology for a long time, and didn't just show up and start stealing ideas from others.

HTC details the development period behind the XDA, its first Windows Phone in the U.S. They started working on it in 1999, and brought it to market in 2002. I remember that thing. It was absolutely huge. It ran Pocket PC Phone Edition, and was available from the very freshly minted T-Mobile network. I clearly remember standing in a New York City electronics shop ogling it. It was the killer device of its day.

As part of its response, HTC CEO Peter Chou said, "HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself. HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible. From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone."

The company has vowed to defend itself vigorously, as it should. HTC has experienced amazing growth in the past three years. It has crafted a range of attractive handsets that are used by millions of people around the globe.