If you see an i-phone, you would know it is an U.S. brand; if you see a Samsung smartphone, you would know it is a S. Korean brand; and if you see a HTC smartphone, you may wonder where it comes from, right? The answer is Taiwan.
What is HTC about? Let’s go back to look at its history:
HTC Corporation (Chinese: 宏達國際電子股份有限公司; pinyin: Hóngdá Guójì Diànzǐ Gǔfèn Yǒuxiàn Gōngsī), formerly High Tech Computer Corporation, is a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones and tablets.
The company has a rich heritage of many "firsts", including creating the first Microsoft-powered smartphone (2002) and the first Microsoft 3G phone (2005). Their first major product was made in 2000 and was one of the world's first touch screen smartphones. The Palm Treo 650 and the iPAQ were created by HTC. They started producing 3G-capable phones in early 2005 and made the world's first Android phone in 2008, the HTC Dream (also marketed as the T-Mobile G1). It was first released in the United States for pre-order through T-Mobile USA on September 23, 2008, and became available in U.S. T-Mobile stores on October 22, 2008.
Compared to Taiwan’s biggest company- Foxconn, HTC is far more important for the exporting and GDP in Taiwan. Due to “MIT,” which means their products are Made In Taiwan (they actually hire people in Taiwan), though their annual revenue is only 1/7 to 1/8 of Foxconn’s, their influence for Taiwan’s economy growth and employment market is enormous.
On 22.5.2012,CommonWealth Magazine ( one of the biggest magazines in Taiwan) points out that, during these three years, the HTC smartphone exporting is the main driver for the export growth in Taiwan. The official number shows that in 2008, the exporting for the sole company is valued 31.6 billion NTD (equals to 842 million Euros) and in 2011, the amount is tenfold- 415 billion NTD (11.06 billion Euros).
In Wikipedia, “in April 2011,the company's market value surpassed that of Nokia to become the third largest smartphone maker in the world, only behind Apple and Samsung.”
Unfortunately, things cannot be always right with HTC. The fourth quarter in 2011, the exporting decreased by 4%, and it keeps worsening, especially the electronic and communication products. The markets that shrink the most are in China and the U.S.. Further, the first quarter of 2012, the revenue severely falls by 35% because of Apple and Samsung. According to the IDC market survey, the sale of Samsung grows 267% since 2011, overtaking Apple as the NO.1 in the smartphone market. On the other hand, the sale of HTC declines by 23.3%.
What’s wrong with HTC then? As a customer, one of my Finnish friends honestly told me that he is very satisfied with his HTC smartphone except one disadvantage- the battery. Once he surfs online, the battery quickly dies ,so he needs to frequently charge it. Besides, if you look at the design of HTC, you cannot tell it is Samsung or another brands. Unlike Apple, which has the most recognizable and elegant design to attract customers, the design of HTC, in my opinion, is slightly disappointing.
The well-being of HTC is not just about the company itself but the economy growth of Taiwan. That is, it is way too important to fail. How should HTC win customers back? It is an urgent question for HTC and the government to answer.
Comments
Actually,there are three and one of them is in Taichung City. I definitely introduce them to you! Kiitos!
Excellent HTC story. It's true, we know a lot more about Korean or Chinese high-tech manufacturers. It would be interesting to learn more about the Taiwanese tech industry. How about the technology parks? Hsuen-chu, you mentioned that there are two big ones and one of them in your hometown.