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HTC Corp looking to double its sales in Asia-Pacific region

High Tech Computer Corp (HTC, 宏達電), the world's largest maker of handsets running Microsoft Corp's operating system, aims to double its unit sales in the Asia-Pacific region this year by enlarging its retail network, a company executive said yesterday.

HTC primarily sells its phones via telecom operators, such as the nation's largest telecoms company Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信), but now the company plans to extend its retail network to boost sales, said Jack Tong (董俊良), HTC's vice president for Asia.

HTC is extending its product line-up to include handsets for general consumers, so "the deployment of a retail channel will be crucial for unit sales," Tong said on the sidelines of the launch of the firm's latest smartphone, code-named the "HTC P3470."

NEW MODEL

The new phone features a touch screen and includes a global positioning system.

In a collaboration with the nation's largest handset and electronics distribution chain, Synnex Technology International Corp (聯強國際), HTC will triple its retail outlets to 15,000 this year from last year's 400 or 500 outlets, Tong said.

"We believe HTC will have strong growth momentum this year, driven by consumer-oriented phones and emerging markets," Tong said. "We will also count on Synnex to accelerate that growth ... this [cooperation in Taiwan] is the first step."

In the Asia-Pacific region, HTC has set a sales target of 2 million phones this year, compared to 1 million last year.

NO SLOWDOWN

"We did not experience a slowdown during the Lunar New Year holidays," Tong said in response to a reporter's question about sliding mobile phone sales in China during the holiday season.

China, India and Australia are the firm's fastest-growing markets, HTC said.

Synnex started working with Nokia Ojy to sell phones in China last year. The firm also sells computers for Hewlett Packard Co and other brands.

HTC said there were no plans to work with Synnex in other markets outside of Taiwan at the present.

MARKET SHARE

HTC seized a 6 percent share of the home market in terms of value last month, said Dick Chang (張永鴻), general manager of Synnex's communications business unit, citing company figures.

HTC, a long-term leader in producing mobile phones running Microsoft's system, had a good chance to increase growth in the second half on growing demand for smartphones, Chang said.

HTC shares were unchanged at NT$665 yesterday.
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