HTC launches own-brand mobiles

The company's former own brand, Qtek, will remain in place. The aim is to supply its new Windows Mobile 5.0 products to second tier and MVNO operators via distribution. It promises to shoulder the burden of supporting facilities such as Microsoft's push email via its own web site and call centres.

This announcement coincided with the launch of two HTC models - the TyTN and the MTeoR. Both are claimed to be the first Windows Mobile 5.0 handsets available with 3G/W-CDMA.

The TyTN is a clamshell style device while the MTeoR has the more traditional candy bar shape. They both should start shipping in July 2006.

Although HTC's large customerbase of major mobile network operators will be offered exactly the same products and the ability to brand them, it will be interesting to see how they react to such handsets going through retail.

They may, for example, not appreciate the fact that consumers can buy such devices SIM free and by-pass the operator's own technical support facilities.

HTC CEO, Peter Chou, revealed that his company is very close to shipping handsets for the joint Virgin/BT mobile TV system which will work with T-DMB. Additionally, HTC will also supply handsets that are DVB-H compatible - which is the rival TV standard.

In the UK, these new HTC branded models are expected to go through leading distributors, Brightpoint and Danguard. µ