Google Phone Helps Maker Post Solid Q4, New Products Coming
The fourth quarter launch of T-Mobile's G1, the first smartphone to use Google's Android OS, helped the handset's maker nearly meet its earnings targets despite a sharp global economic downturn.
High Tech Computer (HTC), the Taiwanese smartphone maker, reported its net profit fell just over 1 percent year-on-year to NT$9.86 billion (US$293.1 million) as sales increased 21 percent to NT$47.4 billion.
The revenue figure nearly met HTC's target of NT$48 billion, falling short because consumers reined in spending amid fears of further layoffs and other economic turbulence. HTC warned that the first quarter will be even worse for smartphone makers.
"The global economy has weakened rapidly since the fourth quarter, resulting in low business visibility," the company said. HTC's customers are selling off inventory and delaying new smartphone orders from the company, which markets the HTC Touch series of handsets as well as the HTC Dream and other handsets.
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