HTC - Touch & Dream
Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. commonly known as HTC, has been doing some amazing things but without much fanfare. Now its getting well-deserved attention from the media and investors. Analysts are projecting HTC to be a major player in Asian handset markets. One of its star products is The Touch, which, like the iPhone, uses a touch-sensitive screen rather than dedicated buttons for many of its functions. Touch was a big profit-driver for the company last quarter. This week at CTIA, HTC Touch Dual was introduced with Windows Mobile 6.1. Later this year HTC is expected to launch Dream, an ultrathin version of Touch.
Thats not all though. HTC will be making android based phones as well. A recent WSJ article says that the buzz for Google phone may make HTC a smart stock for investors seeking growth in uncertain economic times.
HTC started in 2002 making Windows-based smart phones under contract for companies such as Palm Inc., Dell Inc, and Hewlett-Packard Co. Now, nearly 80% of its sales comes from handsets it makes in collaboration with telecom operators across the globe and under its own brand.
This month, HTC announced an alliance with Reliance Communications Ltd., India’s second-largest phone company by subscribers, to promote smart phones in that country. HTC’s CDMA handsets will be used on Reliance’s network, a move that will strengthen HTC’s foothold in one of the world’s fastest-growing phone markets.
Last May, HTC bought Dopod, a local handset maker, as part of a strategy to enter the branded business in Asia. Dopod gives HTC access to seven markets in addition to Taiwan: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and India.
The phone which HTC is developing with Google Inc.’s Android system will probably be called the Dream — will have a large touchscreen and is expected to be launched in the second half. HSBC’s Ms. Wang targets an initial shipment of 200,000 units per quarter.
HTC shares have more than quadrupled since early 2005. HTC’s 2007 net profit rose 15% to a record NT$28.93 billion, while revenue rose 13% to NT$118.58 billion. Since the beginning of the year, HTC shares have risen 13%, outperforming Taiwan’s other technology shares. The stock trades at a fairly modest 13.43 times trailing earnings.
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HTC makes really decent hardware - even though HTC itself isn’t a known name due to rebranding (QTek/XDA/IMate/MDA/Seimens etc.)
My XDA II is more than 4 years old now, and even though I have dropped it dozens of times, it is still alive and well - Windows Mobile is one of the few decent things that have come out of Microsoft.
I have decided to wait for Andriod instead of “upgrading” to an iphone.
Sohaib, this is exactly why I chose to do this post on HTC. I think HTC is about to go really big with Android and Touch.
I believe Android does not have many of the limitations that the iphone SDK has either, which should make it more fun to develop on.