HTC Launches 4 Devices, Sells 800,000 Touch Phones
Taiwanese mobile phone maker High Tech Computer Corp. ( 2498.TW) Monday unveiled four new devices that will go on sale during the Christmas trading period, and said that it had sold 800,000 of its flagship Touch phones since they went on sale July 22.
HTC, the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones based on Microsoft Corp.’s (MSFT) Windows Mobile operating platform, Monday followed up the success of its first Touch phone in Europe and Asia, with the Touch Dual phone.
France Telecom’s (FTE) mobile arm Orange will be the first operator to sell the phone - which can run on a 3.5G/HSDPA network - in the U.K., France, Romania and Poland, starting in October. The phone - which like Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone has a two-megapixel camera, touch screen and the ability to rotate images - will be provided free in the U.K. to Orange customers on a GBP35-a-month tariff.
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) networks, which HTC describes as 3.5G, provide high-speed data downloads for mobile phone users, allowing them to access emails, music and video content much faster than they can on second- generation phones chiefly used for voice and text only.
HTC is also launching three other devices: the HTC Shift, a small mobile computer that runs on the Microsoft Windows Vista platform, and has push email; the HTC S730 handset aimed at both consumer and business users; and the P6500.
Despite making a name for itself making O2’s XDA business device, the P6500 is HTC’s first own-branded phone aimed specifically for the business market. 02 is the wireless division of Telefonica SA (TEF) of Spain.
As well as supporting third-generation, or 3G, connectivity that supports wireless multimedia applications and satellite navigation, the device also includes applications that could prove attractive to logistics companies and the local government sector, including a barcode reader and finger-print scanning.
Speaking at a press conference in London, HTC’s Chief Executive Peter Chou sidestepped questions regarding recent rumors that it had won a major contract to supply the world’s fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer, Sony Ericsson, with handsets.
“There’s a lot of rumors but generally we’re not able to comment,” said Chou. A spokeswoman for Sony Ericsson declined to comment.
Sony Ericsson is a joint-venture between Sony Corp. (SNE) of Japan and Sweden’s Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson (ERIC).
Company Web site: http://www.htc.com