HTC has been on a roll lately, with a couple of big acquisitions – like buying Dashwire and investing in Beats Technology on the back of another such announcement such as this. With the outlook being incredibly good for HTC with some great devices for the final quarter of this year, an invitation to an event to “See What’s Next” has been posted on HTC’s UK Facebook page. The event is scheduled for September first and is leading to lot’s of speculation. Before I go wildly off into the realm of guessing; it’s pertinent to consider a couple of factors that may come into play with any announcement HTC might make. First is the fact that Microsoft has released the RTM code for the next build of Windows Phone. Unlike previous updates for the OS, once the release to manufacturer, final product is given to OEM’s such as HTC. It is up to them as to when they release devices running the OS. Microsoft’s Marketing Manager for Scandinavia, Peter Wissinger clarified the Mango release speculation via Facebook
In short he tells WinMobile.se that it is completely up to the OEMs to decide the timeline for launch of the next-generation of Mango devices. Winmobile.se
The other consideration is exactly what does HTC make of Google moving into the OEM business, with the purchase Motorola’s mobile division. While the purchase could easily be misconstrued by other OEM’s as a threat to their businesses, in fact it seems that most welcome it as a consolidation of the Android ecosystem. Google’s ability to manufacture their “Nexus” products, ie; the ground breaking OS update devices that OEM’s have competed for, there’s a bit of pressure taken off. In fact HTC CEO Peter Chou welcomed the acquisition, lauding Google’s actions for creating an even tougher Patent barrier for competitors[Apple, Microsoft] to contend with. Facing facts, Motorola was one of the longest established mobile providers, with patents going back to those mobile/car phones that weighed a tonne, and were in fact not mobile unless mounted in a vehicle.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Chou was careful to reiterate his support for the [Google/ Motorola mobile] deal, stating that it would benefit the entire ecosystem because Google would have a stronger patent shield thanks to the acquisition. The end result: a stronger Android for manufacturers to work with.
I’d have to agree with this statement from TechCrunch,
HTC, in a way, seems almost fearless these days: Chou’s vehement support of Google, HTC’s new patent suit against Apple, and their acquisition of a majority stake in Beats have a sort of maverick, “we can handle anything” air about them. Even if Motorola does happen to receive preferential treatment (and I have a hard time imagining that they wouldn’t), HTC seems poised to take whatever comes next with a smile and a new phone in hand
Take all of that into account, and then think about what HTC will announce on the First of September, and the possibilities are endless. We have been seeing a constant flow of leaked devices, both Android and Windows Phone,
It’s been a while since we last met, so we thought that we’d invite you to come party – and most importantly see what’s next.
There will be the usual food, drinks, music and a few phone treats for you to enjoy.
It would be great to see you. If you’re planning on attending, please RSVP to let us know. Just remember that it’s an event for people over 18 and it’s on a first come, first served basis.
As ever you can always follow the conversation via our Twitter Tag: #HTCQB
Look forward to seeing you there!
HTC Team
P.S. For those who are a little camera shy, please read the terms and conditions (http://goo.gl/ZBdaX) as we will have the photographers at the event Facebook
SO now the speculation begins, a lot of the phones/devices, seem to be coming with a large specification bump, and some of the reported screen resolutions, either suggest tablet devices, or a whole new generation of smartphones with incredibly sharp and advanced displays. More so, the likelihood that HTC is gearing up for a big Holiday push, is really on the cards here. The announcement may be primarily Windows Phone dominated, hopefully three new devices will be unveiled, the Mazaa, Omega and the Eternity. Also expect to see a new base level set for Android devices, with dual core processors, a lot more internal storage to accommodate the ever expanding OS, and a minimum of 1 Gb of Ram.
More importantly, what we are seeing is a much more aggressive PR approach, HTC is now trying to expand the market awareness that they have built, in what is a small amount of time. Whatever I can imagine might be coming in a fortnight, or even if I’ve, hit the nail on the head, we will still have to wait for the release ;(
