HTC's HTC HD2 to Be Launched in Europe for Christmas Boom

Taipei, Nov. 19, 2009 (CENS)--Vodafone, a leading telecom service provider in Europe, is going to officially promote HTC HD2 developed by Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. in the U.K. to tap enormous business opportunities during the Christmas sales season, while its European competitors have also been ready to put the smartphone on their product shelves soon for the Christmas boom, according to Peter Chou, CEO of HTC.

HTC posted lower-than-expected sales revenue of NT$12.7 billion (US$390.76 million at US$1: NT$32.5) for October, but is still confident of attaining a total of NT$42 billion (US$1.29 billion) for the fourth quarter of this year, mainly because the firm's newest HTC HD2 has been promoted by European telecom companies since the beginning of November and may push up the firm's sales revenue to NT$16 billion (US$492.3 million ) in November.

Chou said that besides Vodafone, O2, Orange and T-Mobile have also bought HTC HD2 for sales during the Christmas sales season. In addition to Europe, the smartphone has been available in Taiwan and is slated for launch in the U.S. in the first quarter of next year at the earliest.

With high-profile smartphones, HTC has been gradually recognized among consumers worldwide. According to Gartner's newest market surveys, sales of smartphones in the global market totaled 41.1 million units in the third quarter of this year, up 13% from 36.6 million units a year earlier, with HTC commanding a global market share of 6.5% as the fourth-largest brand in the market by supplying 2.7 million units, sharply up nearly 60% from a year earlier.

In the meantime, Nokia, although seeing its market share slide to 39.3% in the quarter from 42.3% a year earlier, still dominated the segment, trailed by RIM and Apple with a market share of 20.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Samsung came fifth with a 3.2% share, according to Gartner.