HTC

HTC's road map leads to a detour, Q1 shipments will be less than expected

posted by Alan F. / Dec 19, 2012, 12:07 AM

HTC's road map leads to a detour, Q1 shipments will be less than expected

HTC's road map has encountered a detour, although this is one of those stories that you might want to read with a box of salt nearby. According to "industry sources," HTC has decided to cut back on its Q1 shipments because of the recent launch of the Apple iPhone 5 and recently declining smartphone prices in China. Earlier forecasts that HTC would increase first quarter shipments 20-30% from the fourth quarter have been lowered to an increase of 10-15% sequentially.

Industry sources say that the HTC Windows Phone 8X is not selling as well as expected

The Taiwan based manufacturer has reportedly stopped development on some new models for 2013. This happens as those same "industry sources" note that HTC's Windows Phone 8 models have not been selling as well as expected, and that sales of the competition's top models like the Apple iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III have both been very good.

In China, HTC has been facing stiff competition from white-box smartphone vendors. As a result, the manufacturer has gone against its desire to stick to high end models by selling units for less than CNY 2,000 ($321 USD). HTC declined to comment on the report.

In the U.S., the HTC DROID DNA, with its 5 inch screen, 1080p resolution and Retina display busting pixel density of 441ppi, has created a lot of attention for the manufacturer. The device was third in our Best Phone of 2012 list, behind the Google Nexus 4 and the Apple iPhone 5.

source: Digitimes

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20 Comments

1. D.Aceveda

Posts: 432; Member since: Jun 30, 2012

Heres an idea HTC. Do something similar to Google. Instead of selling phones for $500-$600 unlocked and off contract try $400! I bet people would buy like crazy. Obviously Google sold their Nexus 4's at cost meaning they likely made no profit but still. It sold. Samsung has such a huge grasp on Android I see under cutting in pricing HTC's only way to make a strong come back. Taking less profit margins seems the only way to take back market share

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:13 AM 7

4. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

I don't think they can manage that. Google is probably subsidizing the cost for increasing importance of Nexus line, and forcing LG to provide handsets at low cost to Google. That's why according to reports, LG is not keen to keep supply in play store up. Samsung makes most of the internal stuff themselves. That's why they can manage selling at lower prices. No other company can. If you are citing the manufacturing bill as published by news sites, you are omitting lot of things that need to be considered. Salary they pay for their employees, expensive Ad campaigns, commercials, demo units, R&D, plants expansion, tax, patent licensing, lawsuits etc... The whole math isn't that positive.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:36 AM 0

8. D.Aceveda

Posts: 432; Member since: Jun 30, 2012

True but I am more than SURE if HTC shaves off $150+ or more on handsets I highly doubt they'd be hurting for money. Just taking in less profits.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 1:27 AM 2

12. XPERIA-KNIGHT unregistered

only one way to find out :)

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 3:13 AM 0

17. mightyillidan

Posts: 20; Member since: Oct 24, 2011

well if they improve battery life i would be willing to pay !

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:06 PM 0

2. richardyarrell2011

Posts: 510; Member since: Mar 16, 2011

I don't want to see HTC out of the game android needs them too. They better make sure the next Evo for 2013 is ready. I roll with Samsung only now that will always be but android needs HTC.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:15 AM 5

3. wendygarett unregistered

The device was third in our Best Phone of 2012 list, behind the Google Nexus 4 and the Apple iPhone 5. That's what you think pa lol

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:21 AM 3

5. RaKithAPeiRiZ

Posts: 1488; Member since: Dec 29, 2011

the G1 was first but now HTC is going downhill ...its time they give what the customer wants , removable batteries and sd cards

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 12:57 AM 2

6. ftyler223

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 06, 2012

I don't understand why people hate HTC so much. You guys disgust me. The Droid DNA shouldve gotten best phone of the yr over the iPhone and nexus 4. HTC is on their game lately. my DNA is literally the best phone I've ever had.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 1:02 AM 7

7. ftyler223

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 06, 2012

I'm just sick of Samsung. I feel like they half ass it. Like come on they make amazing tv's. When are they gonna make a phone with a decent screen? Cuz they all suck.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 1:04 AM 6

9. MeoCao unregistered

I think Butterfly (DNA) is best phone in the market right now. Unfortunately for HTC, its lack of resources is exposed by SS and Apple: both SS and Apple sell their phones at heavy discounts and it's very difficult for HTC to compete. The only way for HTC to survive is investing more on R&D and differentiating their phones with some unique features. HTC just can't compete on price against SS or Apple.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 1:38 AM 2

10. wendygarett unregistered

Stock android is enough for me, if I want a features, I will definitely get it from Google play, so that I can choose to uninstall it easily, if things get messy...

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 1:43 AM 0

11. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

Continue your strategy of being the first to have super Phones HTC and the weight will just continue to weigh you down further and further. Your good with hardware but hardly have any software to back it up. And the lack of brand recognition will kill you. The HD7 was a great WP. If you only continued with a successor, the HD8, people would already know what it is. And campaigning for would be easy!!!

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 3:08 AM 2

13. Johnnokia

Posts: 1158; Member since: May 27, 2012

Unfortunately, HTC did not have any chance to buy in Android sector because of Samsung, and now in Windows because of the Lumia line. I love HTC, but when I wanted to buy Android phone, I went to Galaxy S3. Actually, I wanna try Windows ,,, Sure, I will go to Lumia. Sorry HTC, many people might think like me... You don't have a chance to compete with Nokia especially outside the USA.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 4:22 AM 0

14. dmakun

Posts: 382; Member since: Jun 06, 2011

HTC lost the plot in 2010 after the last original desire series phone (desire hd). They should have kept the "desire" their flagship (as well as the evo series) instead of releasing a multitude of devices with silly names. HTC may be a relatively small company but the potential was there but they've somehow conspired against themselves to fail with each new device launched. All this chatter about how good the screen of a 5 inch phone titled "DNA" looks won't save them. HTC ought to stop copying the iPhone marketing strategy & stick to what they're good at & what makes android so great. Give users what they want! HTC makes the best looking phones without a doubt but they also make devices with crappy battery life & if you add the recent lack of SD card (a big selling point for Samsung galaxy series) with the sealed battery issue then it's going to be a big fail! FYI my first 2 android devices were HTC & I really would like them to survive this but the solution to their survival is so simple that it's quite painful to watch them blow every chance.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 4:32 AM 0

15. redmd

Posts: 1939; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

htc WP8 is definitely not selling. other htc phones will not sell as much as the galaxy series.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 5:23 AM 0

16. redmd

Posts: 1939; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

I suggest htc should also focus on the low end. the galaxy y and optimus L3 are local best sellers. Sony xperia tipo is also doing better. I say release the htc explorer with ICS. on the high end, give us bigger battery and removable storage. otherwise it's no deal for me. the cloud is not that big around the world.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 5:35 AM 0

18. MC1123

Posts: 1256; Member since: Nov 12, 2012

"industry sources say that the HTC Windows Phone 8X is not selling as well as expected" coz that WP is overprice ($199 2 year contract of what can it offer?!) while nokia lumia 920 it the best WP! even though 8x always appears on all WP ads by microsoft, people will still prefer nokia!! coz nokia, the return of the king!

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 6:42 PM 0

19. ftyler223

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 06, 2012

You guys are rediculous. The HTC that everyone knew in 2010 with crappy battery life is gone. They're phones last just as ling as any other smart phone so stop with that stupid excuse. Also software....where do you come off saying they lack in that category? you can do more with the last 4 HTC devices than you can with any Samsung or apple product. HTC is always the first to launch some new feature. Jesus you still can't simply drag an icon to make a folder on the note 2 but you wanna say its superior to the dna?! Rediculous! Its crazy how people don't know a thing but talk all this non sense. How about continuous shot? No that's not cool at all. (sarcasm) The second htc launches a phone with a stupid sd card slot everyone will shut up.

posted on Dec 19, 2012, 7:23 PM 2

20. ftyler223

Posts: 140; Member since: Aug 06, 2012

Why don't you actually try these devices first. Don't make a statement off what they use to be. The fact is they make the best phone but can't compete with the bigger companies. And Nokia by far makes the ugliest and s**ttiest phones out there. Are you kidding me? The 8 x is way better than the lumia. Wow people are insane. This isn't even worth my time. You guys complain that people aren't inovating but here you have it HTC is doing it all for you. Every year they are first to add a new feature or SPEC to a phone but you guys continually disrespect them. Annoying....