A look at HTC India’s smartphone launches in first half of 2013
Despite good performance of HTC One (probably, as HTC is yet to share any numbers), I think HTC is far from getting back in the game. The recent departure of many top company executives and the news of HTC CEO Peter Chou sticking to his position aren’t going to help the company either.
But, who is to blame for the poor performance of this Taiwanese manufacturer, which once ruled Android arena and was loved by many consumers? What has led to the downfall of a company that made first Nexus smartphone, first 4G smartphone and popular devices like HTC Desire? – the company itself.
Despite being on top of its form, HTC failed to read the market and continued to launch similar and uninspiring devices, leading to the condition where it is now. But, if I look at the company’s smartphone launches in the Indian market (one of the key smartphone markets worldwide) in the first half of 2013, I don’t see a sign of any learning despite continued failures.
Let us start by looking at the list of Android launches by HTC India in the last six months:
- HTC Butterfly
- HTC One
- HTC Desire XDS
- HTC Desire U
- HTC Desire XC
So, the company has released a total of five Android phones till now in 2013. Apart from HTC One, I don’t see a single device, which I or any other sensible consumer would purchase, but why?
Reasons:
- HTC Butterfly, which is a decent smartphone, has been marred by the stupid pricing from the company. HTC India had priced it at INR 45,990 at the launch and even after getting a couple of price-cuts, the phone is not near its current worth.
- HTC Desire XDS, a dual-SIM version of the company’s one year old Desire X, runs on Android 4.0 at a time when we are waiting for Android 4.3 release. There is also 99pc chance that HTC will never push Jelly Bean update to this phone.
- HTC Desire U, again a dual-SIM phone, also runs on old Android 4.0 with no chances of getting Jelly Bean update.
- HTC Desire XC, the latest entrant in HTC India’s portfolio, again runs on Ice Cream Sandwich and probably will never get the Jelly Bean update either.
See what I am saying. The company seems to have no idea about what to launch to get consumers and what not. Even the HTC One, which is the one of the best devices the company has ever made, has suffered because of continuous delays in launch. In spite of announcing the phone for the Indian market in April, the company took almost two months to make it available in stores. We know there was a global shortage of this device, but HTC is to blame for that.
I don’t see this changing anytime soon. HTC will probably be launching Desire 200 as its next Android device in the country and this one again is going to be a disappointment. Apart from a 1GHz processor instead of 600MHz one, Desire 200 is almost the same phone as Desire C. It will be priced stupidly and a consumer will rather buy a Samsung, LG or one of the home-grown manufacturer device, rather than spending hard-earned money on something that just got a little touch-up to make it look like new.
So, unless someone wake up at HTC and decides to get their act together, I don’t see the company recovering from the current state.
Its sad to see HTC is not serious about India…. But its more harmful to them than us…
HTC goes wrong with their over pricing and updates!
You cannot afford to dishearten a customer without a reason to not update the current version of android..
I was using HTC, and now vowed to never buy HTC!
Htc is counting its last days in india.
HTC market is finished in india ACCORDING TO ME.
HTC Gone and Finished they are still on the edge because of ONE and nothing if One goes older by year they are TOTALLY FINISHED
Your opinion seems to be based on the old portfolio of HTC. As a tech blogger you seem to have not considered other devices which are about to be announced by the company for the rest of 2013, you might as well consider next six months and provide a more reasonable opinion which is definitely missing here.
i partly agree. HTC may be planning some decent midrange or highend mobile in the near future but will they hit the indian territory same time as US? i doubt that. and secondly as always all their mobiles will be way overpriced (except One).
BTW AFAIK, Desire 200 is the only upcoming entry level mobile from HTC.
Their main issue is the PRICE. Asus has a similar attitude. ASUS always launches the top end version of the transformer pads and phone pads at ridiculously high prices.
The next thing I hate about HTC is their UI and button layout. HTC once used to be the leader in quick android updates .
motorola had to leave India past year.Now its time for HTC. Seriously Htc butterfly which was launched last year is currently priced more than samsung galexy s4. May be Micromax will take the place of HTC…….( I am waiting for micromax canvas 4)
At a time when even behemoths like Samsung understand that just selling a smartphone and not releasing OS updates is a death knell, HTC continues to stick to older android versions like ICS can only be described in a word “DAFT”.
No matter how many executives comes and go, if the company vision is not clear then its a waste of time to discuss where they are headed coz they are going nowhere other than out of business.
I was recently in Croma and looking at the options by different companies and was pleasantly surprised when the support staff was touting Micromax and other indian brands as great VFM options, and at times like these if MNC’s are acting daft then all power to indian brands like Micromax, etc.