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,[4] is a Taiwanese multinational manufacturer of smartphones and tablets headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Founded in 1997, HTC began as an original design manufacturer and original equipment manufacturer, designing and manufacturing devices such as mobile phones, touchscreen phones, and PDAs based on Windows Mobile OS and Brew MP to market to mobile network operators who were willing to pay a contract manufacturer for customized products.[5][6] After initially making smartphones based mostly on Windows Mobile, HTC expanded its focus in 2009 to devices based on the Android, and in 2010 to Windows Phone. As of 2011, HTC primarily releases and markets its smartphones under the HTC brand, ranking as the 98th top brand on Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2011 report.[7]
A September 2013 media report stated that HTC's share of the global
smartphone market is less than 3 percent. However a report published in
April 2015 states that the market share has risen to 7.2 percent due to
its strong sales of the HTC One M8 and Desire series. The stock price
has fallen by 90 percent since 2011.[8]
HTC is a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, a group of handset manufacturers and mobile network operators dedicated to the development of the Android mobile device platform.[9] The HTC Dream, marketed by T-Mobile in many countries as the T-Mobile G1 or Era G1, was the first phone on the market to use the Android mobile device platform.
On November 10, 2012, Apple and HTC reached a 10-year license-agreement covering current and future patents held by the two companies. The terms of the agreement remain confidential.
In February 2013, HTC settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission concerning lax security on more than 18 million smartphones and tablets[42] it had shipped to customers[43] and agreed to security patches.[44]
The company's growth has accelerated dramatically[clarification needed] since being chosen by Microsoft as a hardware platform development partner for the Windows Mobile operating system (based on Windows CE)[citation needed]. HTC also works with Google to build mobile phones running Google's Android mobile OS such as the Nexus One.[49] HTC's sales revenue totalled $2.2 billion for 2005, a 102% increase from the prior year. It was listed as the fastest-growing tech company in BusinessWeek's Info Tech 100.[50]
HTC is a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, a group of handset manufacturers and mobile network operators dedicated to the development of the Android mobile device platform.[9] The HTC Dream, marketed by T-Mobile in many countries as the T-Mobile G1 or Era G1, was the first phone on the market to use the Android mobile device platform.
Legal
Main articles: Smartphone patent wars and Apple v. HTC
In March 2010, Apple Inc. filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission claiming infringement of 20 of its patents covering aspects of the iPhone user interface and hardware.[37] HTC disagreed with Apple's actions and reiterated its commitment to creating innovative smartphones.[38]
HTC also filed a complaint against Apple for infringing on 5 of its
patents and sought to ban the import of Apple products into the US from
manufacturing facilities in Asia.[39][40] Apple expanded its original complaint by adding two more patents.[41]On November 10, 2012, Apple and HTC reached a 10-year license-agreement covering current and future patents held by the two companies. The terms of the agreement remain confidential.
In February 2013, HTC settled with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission concerning lax security on more than 18 million smartphones and tablets[42] it had shipped to customers[43] and agreed to security patches.[44]
Corporate information
HTC's chairwoman and acting CEO is Cher Wang who is the daughter of the late Wang Yung-ching, founder of the plastics and petrochemicals conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group.[11] Peter Chou serves as head of the HTC Future Development Lab,[45] and HT Cho as Director of the Board and Chairman of HTC Foundation.[46] HTC's CFO is Hui-Ming Cheng.[47] In addition to being chair of HTC, Cher Wang is also acting chair of VIA Technologies.[11] HTC's main divisions, including the IA (Information Appliance) engineering division and the WM (Wireless Mobile) engineering division, are ISO 9001/ISO 14001-qualified facilities.[48]The company's growth has accelerated dramatically[clarification needed] since being chosen by Microsoft as a hardware platform development partner for the Windows Mobile operating system (based on Windows CE)[citation needed]. HTC also works with Google to build mobile phones running Google's Android mobile OS such as the Nexus One.[49] HTC's sales revenue totalled $2.2 billion for 2005, a 102% increase from the prior year. It was listed as the fastest-growing tech company in BusinessWeek's Info Tech 100.[50]
