HTC has been one of the most high profile smartphone manufacturers over the last couple of years and has been responsible for many bestselling smartphones, particularly those that run the Android operating system. Its current flagship model, the HTC One X has seen some strong sales, but they have been unable to match those of the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S3. Because the market share now belongs almost entirely to Apple and Samsung, HTC has recently reported a significant drop in quarterly profits. The Taiwanese company recently posted its lowest quarterly profits since 2006, earning $133 million. This may sound like a lot of first, but is really put into perspective when we compare it with the $7.3 billion earned by Samsung during the same period, and this takes into account the fact that Samsung also had to pay over $1 billion to Apple as the result of a lawsuit.
In an attempt to regain some of the smartphone market share it once had, HTC is reportedly decided to focus more on the Windows Phone operating system rather than Android, which has been the mainstay in most of the manufacturer’s handsets. There is much less competition with Windows Phone powered devices, and of course Microsoft has massive resources for marketing and software development. Also, the platform has steadily grown in popularity over the last couple of years as people seek alternatives to Android and iOS. The HTC 8X and 8S models are soon to be launched, and are the latest Windows Phone smartphones from HTC. They will run the all new Windows Phone 8 operating system which is set to be launched very shortly.
The HTC 8X is the higher end of the two, with key features including a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 8 megapixel camera, 16 GB of internal storage and a 4.3 inch screen. The HTC 8S is the mid range offering, with its pricing and features reflecting this.
HTC will not completely stop making Android smartphones, and an upgraded version of the HTC One X is due to be launched shortly. The HTC One X+ brings a number of new features to the popular One X, which is sure to give it a new boost its appeal.
