HTC Expecting to Make Big Bucks Due to Android

HTC is counting on Android for some major moolah.

HTC was the one who jump-started the Android market with the launch of the G1 and in the process, became more well known the world over. Now there are significantly more manufacturers producing Android devices which means HTC has some serious competition. Not one to take a fight lying down, HTC plans to rise to the occasion. The Financial Times cites HTC as saying it will increase shipments of smartphones by up to 50 percent in the next three months alone. If the company can pull this off, it would mean going from 3.3 million handsets in the first quarter to 4.5 million in the second quarter.

Cheng Hui-ming, chief financial officer, said these numbers “indicate the growing popularity of the Android platform in Europe and the US,” Cheng goes on to say that concerns about the company losing ground because it didn't have an own-brand OS to sell are being blown out of proportion. "From our first and second quarter numbers, you can clearly see that we have maintained competitiveness and can differentiate ourselves," he said.

Indeed, HTC reported first quarter revenues of T$31.41 billion (US$1 billion) last year to T$37.95 billion while net profit increased slightly from T$4.87 billion to T$5 billion. The company expects second-quarter revenue to reach T$50 billion.

It's great to see HTC pushing Android in a market that up until very recently, was dominated by Apple and BlackBerry. However, HTC is not just about Android anymore; the company is planning Windows Phone 7 devices and despite what Cheng said yesterday, is reportedly thinking of building phones with an own-brand OS. With all these new offerings, HTC is more than capable of taking on the bigger, more popular smartphone manufacturers.