HTC, Hon Hai Group to Reap Shining Sales in Q4

Taipei, Sept. 2, 2008 (CENS)--With smartphones gaining popularity in the consumer market in the second half of this year, Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., both world-caliber contract suppliers of handsets, are expected to score solid sales performance in the fourth quarter of this year, according to industry sources.

Estimates made by the Market Intelligence Center (MIC) under the Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan's shipment of smartphones is estimated at 15.05 million units in the fourth quarter of this year, up 10% from the third quarter and sharply surging by 130% from a year earlier.

Also, MIC has already raised its projection of Taiwan's smartphone shipment for the third quarter to 13.7 million units, soaring 91.5% and 180% from the second quarter and one year earlier, respectively. Noteworthy is that this is the first for the island to see its single-quarter shipment of the products exceed 10 million units, thanks to Apple Inc.'s hot sales of iPhone 3G in the world.

However, the ASP (average selling price) of smartphones shipped by Taiwanese manufacturers has gradually dipped to US$298 per unit in the second quarter from US$303 in the first quarter, and is expected to further slip to US$297 in the third quarter and US$293 in the fourth quarter, according to MIC.

HTC is now the leading supplier of smartphones in Taiwan. The firm has already launched HTC Diamond, Victor and Touch Pro series, which have been well received in the consumer markets. Moreover, the firm has witnessed sales of its newest HTC Diamond series break 1 million units worldwide, and projects the figure to probably reach 2 million at the end of this year.

Besides, HTC has produced X1 series smartphones for Sony Corp. on an ODM (original design manufacturing basis), which are slated for launch this October. The firm has also worked out Dream series, world's first smartphone based on Google's Android platform.

On the other hand, Hon Hai Precision, one of major contract suppliers of Apple's iPhone, and its reinvested companies, including Technology Corp., Largan Precision Co., Catcher Technology Co., Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co. and TXC Corp., are very likely to benefit from hot sales of iPhone 3G in the world, as institutional investors widely project global sales of the product to hit 13 million units this year and 45 million units next year.