High Tech Computer Corp (HTC, 宏達電), the world's biggest maker of handsets running Microsoft Corp's operating system, yesterday said it was working with Yahoo Inc to provide Internet services ranging from e-mail to maps on millions of HTC phones.
HTC said it planned to launch the first handset preloaded with Yahoo's services in the first half of the year, allowing users the same quick access to Yahoo's Internet services that they get from their computers.
"HTC is always seeking new ways to keep people connected to their community of friends and personalized content while mobile," said chief executive Peter Chou (周永明) in a statement released after the local stock market closed.
The deal makes HTC, based in Taoyuan, the fifth mobile phone maker to offer Yahoo Web services on its devices after Nokia Oyj, the world's largest maker of mobile phones, Motorola Inc, the second-largest, Samsung and LG.
Shares of HTC jumped 1.28 percent to NT$436.5 yesterday, higher than the benchmark TAIEX index's 0.4-percent gain.
"Since we launched Yahoo! Go 2.0 less than two months ago, there has been strong demand from the Windows Mobile community to get this innovative service on their mobile devices," said Marco Boerries, a senior vice president of Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, California.
HTC mobile devices with Yahoo services will be available to consumers through both mobile operators and direct distribution channels, the statement said.
"The deal will have a positive impact on HTC as the deal with Yahoo will help the company enhance its product portfolio and boost orders and sales," said Lu Chia-lin (呂家霖), an analyst with Yuanta Core Pacific Securities (元大京華證券).
HTC told investors in January that business would start to pick up in the second quarter because of new product launches scheduled for late in the first quarter and early second quarter.
Revenues for the first three months would be flat compared to a year ago, when it made NT$24 billion (US$726 million). HTC accumulated NT$15 billion in revenues in January and February, down 3.36 percent year on year.