2nd HTC Android phone due by the summer

Two interesting snippets of news on HTC today suggest a second HTC Android phone is on the way. Not so much a follow-up to the HTC-built T-Mobile G1, we understand, but a fully branded-up HTC model following on from its successful Touch line-up.

First up, from trade mag, Mobile, HTC's been talking of its plans to go full steam ahead with its plans for world mobile domination - or greater UK brand presence at any rate. That means more HTC branded handsets and a bigger marketing push to flog them - 30% more in fact.

Acting HTC UK and Ireland manager, Dave Catt, told Mobile: 'At the moment, we haven’t got as strong awareness as our European colleagues because the UK is very network orientated. You need to be bullish in a marketplace like this.'

Look at him getting all manager-speak on us. Anyhoo, the important bit is HTC wants a bigger slice of the UK mobile pie, which means it'll be bringing out some spangly new handsets to tempt us with. And it looks like top of that will be a second Android handset. Not a network re-badge job like the G1 but a HTC branded model.

Catt reckons the G1's given it a head start on Android and now it's time to think of the next Android model. 'It’s an interesting market because it’s brand new and no-one knows about it,' he said,'so there’s a double education to be done – one with our partners and the other for the end user. We feel that being the first manufacturer in that space gives us a big advantage.'

Reports from Digitimes suggest a new 'high end' Android handset from HTC could be launched before the summer. 'Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) is likely to launch the second Android-powered handset from High Tech Company (HTC) in the second quarter of this year, according to market sources,' it writes, adding: 'The new Android-based handsets will form part of the high-end smartphones CHT plans to purchase this year'.

Course, we've already seen 'leaked' shots of a possible 'G2'. Perhaps Mobile World Congress might be the time to make things official...

[ Mobile]
[ Digitimes]