HTC To Release More Affordable Phones
Struggling Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Corp. plans to expand its range of cheaper products for both emerging and developed markets.
Chang Chia-lin, HTC's chief financial officer, told Reuters in an interview published Sunday that the company will sell more mid-tier and budget products at US$150 to $300, while its high-end smartphones will go on sale at over $600.
"The two cylinders are going to be fired together," Chang said in the interview held last week in New York alongside Chairwoman Cher Wang.
He said, however, that HTC will not enter the "very, very low-end market" as its focus is on breaking into the mid-range market.
Regarding HTC's new products in the high-end phone market, the executives said invitations will be sent out in about two weeks for the launch of the successor to last year's HTC One flagship phone.
HTC Chief Financial Officer Chial in Chang on Monday said January sales slid 38 percent from a year earlier to T$9.67 billion ($319.23 million).
The company's sales outlook for Q1 would be between NT$34 billion ($1.12 billion) and NT$36 billion (US$1.18).
Chang added that new mid-tier and low-end handsets should provide the majority of revenue, bar sales from its flagship HTC One phone, after the first quarter. For January to March, the company expects revenue to fall to T$34 billion to T$36 billion from T$42.8 billion a year earlier.
During the investor call, HTC's CFO also hinted at a venture into wearable technology.
"The two cylinders are going to be fired together," Chang said in the interview held last week in New York alongside Chairwoman Cher Wang.
He said, however, that HTC will not enter the "very, very low-end market" as its focus is on breaking into the mid-range market.
Regarding HTC's new products in the high-end phone market, the executives said invitations will be sent out in about two weeks for the launch of the successor to last year's HTC One flagship phone.
HTC Chief Financial Officer Chial in Chang on Monday said January sales slid 38 percent from a year earlier to T$9.67 billion ($319.23 million).
The company's sales outlook for Q1 would be between NT$34 billion ($1.12 billion) and NT$36 billion (US$1.18).
Chang added that new mid-tier and low-end handsets should provide the majority of revenue, bar sales from its flagship HTC One phone, after the first quarter. For January to March, the company expects revenue to fall to T$34 billion to T$36 billion from T$42.8 billion a year earlier.
During the investor call, HTC's CFO also hinted at a venture into wearable technology.
