| The market leader in Windows smartphones is once | | | | the HTC HD Mini, the HTC Touch Pro2 (Tilt2 for |
| again showing its teeth and has taken the initiative to | | | | AT&T), the HTC Touch Diamond 2 and the rumored |
| be the leader in Android smartphones as well. It had | | | | HTC Trophy running the Widows Mobile. |
| the foresight and the courage to launch the world's | | | | To many observers, HTC is not about to let go its |
| first Android smartphone in 2008 with the HTC dream | | | | partnership with Microsoft and is hopeful that the |
| provided to T-Mobile which promptly rebranded it as | | | | upcoming Windows Phone 7 can provide an upgrade |
| the T-Mobile G1. | | | | path to its current and new line-up of Windows |
| It has also demonstrated anew its OEM muscle when | | | | smartphones. But Microsoft had already made it clear |
| it gave search engine giant Google the HTC Passion | | | | that the new OS scheduled to be released towards |
| handset for its first incursion into the mobile phone | | | | Christmas of 2010 is a clean slate and may not readily |
| business with the Nexus One running what else, but its | | | | be ported to older models running the Windows Mobile |
| own open source operating system in its latest | | | | OS. |
| iteration, the Android 2.1 Éclair. | | | | At any rate, HTC is still banking that the remaining 7.9% |
| In between these two, the High Tech Computer Corp | | | | share of the Windows Mobile market will make room |
| founded in 1997 has made its own Android-run | | | | for its new Windows handsets and that the new |
| smartphones together with its usual handsets running | | | | Android models in its stable will address those planning |
| the Windows Mobile OS that had made it the world's | | | | to switch. Excellent marketing strategy anyway you |
| largest smartphone maker after Nokia. | | | | look at it. A dual OS product strategy seems its best |
| Now, it plans to lead in the Android markets as well but | | | | way out of the bind. |
| without as yet abandoning the Windows platform as | | | | An Escape Chute |
| its rivals in the industry have. Acer and Samsung | | | | Computer market analysts at Gartner Research have |
| already made their plans clear that they would no | | | | been tracking Microsoft's diminishing shares in the |
| longer make Windows handsets in 2010. Motorola has | | | | smartphone markets since it peaked at 24% in 2004 |
| thrown its weight to concentrate on smartphones | | | | as the third largest OS after Symbian and BlackBerry. |
| running Android. Palm, Inc. has likewise made its | | | | Since then, the Windows Mobile has been losing |
| intentions clear in the same direction. | | | | ground year after year ending up at 14% in 2008. 2009 |
| Platform Mix for 2010 | | | | was its worst year, loosing half its remaining share to |
| But if the recent Mobile World Congress held in | | | | Android to settle at 7.9% and a 5th place worldwide |
| Barcelona in February and the CeBIT held in Hanover | | | | after Android and the iPhone OS taking 3rd and 4th |
| the following month were any indication, HTC is | | | | place, respectively. There's no escaping the inevitability |
| adopting a more balanced product mix with both | | | | of its demise, especially now with the forthcoming |
| platforms in its stable even trying out the BREW | | | | WinPho7 on the horizon. Many smartphone makers |
| platform on the HTC Smart. It has unveiled the HTC | | | | have jumped ship and HTC has done the more |
| Desire and the HTC Legend with a rumored upcoming | | | | cautious thing. |
| HTC Incredible on the Android platform together with | | | | |