HTC to Launch 12 New Mobile Devices in 2007

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070122PD206.html' target='_blank'>http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070122PD206.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"High Tech Computer (HTC) plans to introduce 12 new handsets in 2007 to help expand its business, according to company sources. But the company also expects its revenues for the first quarter of this year to decline slightly from the fourth quarter of last year due to seasonal factors, said the sources. Additionally, the company will continue to stick to its current policy by cooperating simultaneously with telecom services providers, ODMs and the channel in order to sustain its growth, stated company CEO Peter Chou late last week."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070124-htc.jpg" /><br /><br />There's <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070122PD206.html">no mention</a> of just what each of the twelve new devices are, though we already know a few having revealed them several times over the past few months. Admittedly, a couple have failed to wow the audience, though with <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,53426">competition knocking on HTC's door</a>, we may see more innovative designs from the manufacturer toward the second half of the year.

[whydidnt]

I hate to by cynical (okay maybe I don't :D ), but to me this means we are going to have 12 more nearly identical devices:

2.8" QVGA Screen
128MB ROM / 64 MB RAM
Either 3G or GPS
Similar to either the original JAM or Wizard in size and shape
Slight variations of the above for the Smartphone space

I'll get excited when HTC decides to start innovating again. Of course their sales are going to be off this quarter, they can only sell the same stuff repackaged so many times. HTC has turned into HP - too big and too successful to remember that it was new and innovative stuff that led them to their success. Now they just want to recycle the same thing over and over to maximize short term profits. Problem is - in the long run that strategy almost always fails.

[virain]

I couldn't agree more. And it goes for all of PPC Phone market. For the last 4 years I used to update my PPC at least once a year, Usually in February, Now I don't see anything that worth to replace my Mio A701. And I don't even like this device that much :twisted:

[nd4speed]

I hate to bash HTC, but this is about par for the course.

1. Bump up the CPU (maybe)
2. Maybe add GPS
3. Repackage into a shiny case
4. Leave the memory alone because everyone is happy with 128mb
5. Voila!

This seems to be the spectrum of "innovation" we're seeing in most devices. 2007 promises to be a good year, but I won't hold my breath until I see something come to market.

I'm willing to pay $700-$1000 for a kick @ss device, I'm just not seeing it.

[galt]

I'm going to have to disagree at least a bit. Look at the HTC Athena - what PPC is this mimicking?

http://www.mobiholics.com/index.php?showtopic=251431
Actual pics here are less hideous: http://www.hpc.ru/lib/arts/2281/

# 3G/HSDPA
# GPS
# 3.0MP Camera
# 5" VGA Touch Screen
# Detachable QWERTY keyboard
# ATi graphics card
# 8GB HDD
# VGA-Out
# USB 1.1 Host
# 128MB RAM / 256 MB ROM
# 624 Mhz processor

It's clearly making a path to some mostly uncharted territory for mobile devices. I know most of us aren't looking for such a large UMPCish, tablet-esque device, but it does show that HTC is willing to make some non-cookie cutter devices.

Also, the rumored follow up to the Universal, the HTC OMNI, sounds promising, and while it may be a clone of the Uni form factor, it's a unique enough device on it's own that it deserves some enhancement and upgrading. External display, VGA out, GPS, expanded RAM and ROM. While it may not be a totally new design, it's not the 2.8" QVGA slider QWERTY that we're all tired of.

Let's see how HTC responds to the competition. I don't think we're going to be totally disappointed.