HTC Expects G1 Phone to Infuse NT$7 B. Into Q4 Revenue

Taipei, Oct. 1, 2008 (CENS)--The Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), a world-caliber supplier of smartphones, has unveiled world's first Android platform-based smartphone, G1, in the U.S., and the firm has expected the newest handset to infuse NT$7 billion into its fourth-quarter revenue, according to company sources.

The G1 is developed jointly by Google.Com and HTC, and makes its debut in the U.S., with its service provided by a North American telecom company, T-Mobile. According to industry insiders, T-Mobile is planning to order a total of between 1.5 million and 2 million units of G1 with HTC in the near future, including 400,000 to 500,000 to be sold in the fourth quarter of this year. More exactly, shipment of G1 is estimated to contribute over NT$18 billion to HTC's sales performance next year.

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, indicated at the G1 presentation that presence of G1 and Android platform will definitely give strong pushes to development and applications of the network for handsets in the future.

As a competing model against HTC's Diamond, Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Omnia smartphones, G1, without either Google's or HTC's mark on it, features a rotational slide and finger-touch, built-in keypad, with weight of 150g and thickness of 1.6cm. However, its built-in functions of network application services by Google, including Google Maps, Gmail, Youtube and Google Talk, are the most attractive features for users. Also, the G1 allows users to directly browse Google's online shopping platform, Google Market.

Industry insiders noted that although being inferior to its competing models in terms of exterior design, G1 lures intense attention of consumers to its more easy-to-operate interface and more convenient network functions developed by Google. T-Mobile is scheduled to start promotion of G1 in late October and will price the phone at US$179 per unit coupled with a two-year contract in the U.S. The telecom company will further launch the phone in European countries starting the end of this year.

Comparison of World's Major Smartphones
	T-Mobile G1	Apple iPhone	Samsung Omnia	HTC Diamond
Weight	158g	133g	125g	110g
Operating System	Android	Mac OS X 10.6	Windows Mobile 6.1	Windows Mobile 6.1
Screen Size	3.2 inches	3.5 inches	3.2 inches	2.8 inches
Communication	3.5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS	3.5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS	3.5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS	3.5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Featured Function	3.1 megapixel Camera, Google Maps, Youtube, Gmail	2 Megapixel Camera, Google Maps, Youtube	5 megapixel Camera	3.2 megapixel Camera, Youtube
Built-in Memory Capacity	1GB	8GB, 16GB	8GB, 16GB	4GB
Unit Price (With a 2-year Contract)	US$179	US$199 US$299	--	Euro0-139