Samsung found to have higher device subsidies than Apple, HTC

When most people buy a new smartphone, part of the equation that helps make it affordable to put a small computer in their pocket is the subsidy provided by the carrier. A new analysis of device subsidies by ABI Research shows that Samsung was the highest in terms of percentage when compared to HTC and Apple. Clocking in at 84%, Samsung topped HTC’s implied rate of 80% and Apple’s 74%. This may be surprising to some who have heard carriers are not especially enamored with Apple’s devices due to the squeeze Apple puts on their profits. While Samsung and HTC are worse for carriers from a percentage standpoint, Apple still leads the way with a higher $110 average subsidy cost in actual value.

Subsidies are used by manufacturers and carriers to ensure devices are competitive from a price point perspective. By spreading the “profit” out over the life of a two-year contract, carriers are able to entice more buyers by offering relatively low-cost devices.

This new information provides an additional data point as to why Samsung is continuing a slow march to domination in the mobile handset market. By achieving these better subsidy ratios, Samsung is able to ensure its devices are extremely competitive on price, even offering a better value in some cases. Samsung also has a broad portfolio of devices to meet the demands of several market segments. ABI Research notes this ability to compete on price will be important going forward as the smartphone market moves away from innovation as it matures. Samsung appears to be leading the way in assembling the pieces that will be needed for smartphone markets of the future.

Ascend P6 vs HTC One, Galaxy S4, and Xperia Z

With the official announcement of the Ascend P6 yesterday in London; Huawei is hoping to jump into the ring of high-end smartphones with the release of their ultra slim design. Whether or not the Chinese company can compete in the race for the top Android phone, alongside the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, and Samsung Galaxy S4 still remains to be unclear. However, let’s have a look at all the devices side by side.

So, how does the Ascend P6 stack up compard to the rest? / © AndroidPIT

Media attention was all on board for the presentation of the Huawei Ascend P6 last night and as a part of the major event the smartphone was revealed to the assembled tech press. Here at AndroidPIT, we had a correspondent on location during the reveal and the first impressions of the device were very positive.
Behind the impressive design of this new smartphone, lies a somewhat confusing lump of hardware specs that don’t quite fit in with the coveted top spot it seems to be seeking. The Huawei Ascend P6 still does rank pretty well, but when put against the competitors in the same class, it seems to rank more closely to an upper mid class device. So, the main question remains: can the Ascend P6 keep up with the others? I’ve decided to compare it on seven different categories below.

	Ascend P6	HTC One	Galaxy S4	Xperia Z
Material:	Aluminium	Aluminium	Plastic	Glass
Display:	4.7 inches, LCD 1.280 x 720 Pixel 312 ppi	4.7 inches, LCD 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 469 ppi	5 inches, AMOLED 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 441 ppi	5 inches, LCD 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel 441 ppi
Processor:	Huawei K3V2 1.5 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.7 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 1.9 GHz, Quad-Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5 GHz, Quad-Core
Software:	Android 4.2.2 Emotion UI	Android 4.1.2 HTC Sense 5	Android 4.2.2 TouchWiz	Android 4.1.2 Xperia UI
BAttery:	2.000 mAh	2.300 mAh	2.600 mAh	2.320 mAh
Dimensiomns:	132.6 x 65.5 x 6.18 mm	137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm	136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm	139 x 71 x 7.9 mm
Price (Amazon.com)	North American prices unconfirmed. From 449 € Euros.	From $680 US Dollars	From $630 US Dollars	From $590 US Dollars

Material

When it comes to the material that is preferred on a device, that of course is a matter of personal taste. The debate about the pros and cons of each material isn’t worth getting into a heated discussion over, however, personally, I think an aluminum body looks elegant and sleek, feels good, and is less susceptible to grease stains and fingerprints. As such, the HTC One and Ascend P6 are front-runners in my eyes.

Display

When looking at the data sheet above, you can see that the Ascend P6 has the lowest resolution, pixel density, and screen size (along with the HTC One) out of the bunch. In practice, however, the readability of LCD panels in the open air is known to be better than that of AMOLED screens and as we stated in a previous post, the human eye cannot distinguish anything more than 300 ppi at a normal viewing distance of 30 cms.

Processor

All the other manufacturers that were part of this comparison were running Qualcomm chips, with Huawei being the lone wolf building its own processors. Technically, the quad-core chipset of the P6 keeps up with the Snapdragons and is on par with what is behind the Xperia Z. Upon first impressions though; the performance of the device is absolutely satisfactory.

The Emotion UI draws some inspiration from Apples iOS. / © Huawei

Software

The Ascend P6 comes with the latest Android 4.2.2 and with that, Huawei stands ground along with Samsung in releasing the latest version of the OS. As with all the manufacturers, each brings their own user interface to the mix. As with the contentious issue of preferred material, the UI remains a matter of personal taste. The Huawei Emotion UI has similarities to Apple’s iOS and dispenses with the classic App Drawer. In previous tests of the UI, we found the Emotion UI to be surprisingly good.

Battery

The battery capacity of the Ascend P6 is much weaker than that of competing models. With the lower resolution and a smaller display on the Ascend P6, the battery should be more than enough for what it needs. Moreover, thanks to some power-saving technology built inside the device, the P6 should have about 30 percent more juice in its battery.

Dimensions

Here, the Ascend P6 is the clear winner, at least it you are judging it by having the most compact dimensions possible. Coming in at an impressive 6.18 mm in thickness, Huawei has unveiled the thinnest smartphone currently in the world.

Both sleek and stylish, the P6 also is the thinnest. / © Huawei

Price

Huawei also wins in this category as well. While street prices are not yet available, the retail price for the device definitely shows in what direction they’re aiming. With a price significantly below the $680 US dollar amount, the Ascend P6 is a real bargain compared to the other devices. Comparable in price to the Nexus 4, it has a much more pleasing appearance (in our opinion).

Conclusion

The differences are few and tiny. Even if the current top of the line smartphones seem a bit overpowered when it comes to the Ascend P6, it is technically still at the same level of the rest. In conjunction with the low price and stylish design, the Ascend P6 is definitely a serious contender. And while Huawei still has to take on the role of the underdog in most markets, it’s important to note that Huawei are the world’s third largest smartphone maker, behind Samsung and Apple, and are definitely looking to prove that they are up to the task.However, with only a slated release in specific parts of Europe and in China, it's unknown whether this device, or any Huawei device, will make its way to North American shores within the near future.

HTC 8XT Announced For Sprint – Windows Phone 8 with BoomSound Speakers and Qualcomm Snapdragon 400

Today HTC and Sprint announced the HTC 8XT Windows Phone 8 handset. The device is the first Windows Phone 8 handset that will ship with HTC’s BoomSound speakers, which first debuted on the Android-powered HTC One.

The HTC 8XT features a 4.3 inch display, 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, micro SD card slot (expandable to 64GB), 8 megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash, 1.6 megapixel front facing camera, and 1,800 mAh battery.

The new Windows Phone 8 handset will launch some time later this summer for $99.99 (with $50 mail-in rebate) on a new two-year contract.

Stay tuned for more info on this sexy new Windows Phone!

Press release below

Sprint Plans Summer Launches for First Two Windows Phone 8 Smartphones to Feature Truly Unlimited 4G LTE: HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo

SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESS WIRE), June 26, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Microsoft Corp. today outlined plans to launch the first two Windows Phone 8 smartphones to offer Truly UnlimitedSM Sprint 4G LTE this summer – HTC® 8XT and Samsung ATIV S™ Neo. Customers will appreciate access to the advanced features and capabilities of these devices with the benefit of unlimited 4G LTE (available in select markets) data, text and calling to any mobile with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.

HTC 8XT will be available for $99.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. ATIV S Neo will be priced at $149.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1. Exact availability dates and full feature lists for both smartphones will be shared at a later date. Customers can preregister for more information and email updates about Windows Phone 8 from Sprint and HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo atwww.sprint.com/windows8.

“We know our customers are anxious to get their hands on these Windows Phone 8 smartphones, HTC 8XT and ATIV S Neo,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Without a doubt, they will rival any smartphone on the market today. Our customers will appreciate being able to use them all day, every day without worrying about overages or data caps.”

Windows Phone 8 won the PC Magazine Readers’ Choice Award for best mobile operating system in March 2013. The only phone with Live Tiles, Windows Phone 8 offers a truly personal smartphone experience designed to keep customers connected to the people and things that matter most. Windows Phone brings together the best of Microsoft with the same modern look and feel, including Bing, Office, Xbox and Skype, for a rich customer experience. In addition, the Windows Phone Store includes more than 160,000 apps to choose from, with hundreds added daily.

”We are excited to be bringing the most personal smartphone experience to Sprint customers this summer,” said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president, Microsoft Windows Phone Division. “With compelling hardware from HTC and Samsung, coupled with unlimited 4G LTE from Sprint, these Windows Phones will offer the complete package.”

Must-Have Features from HTC

Music-lovers will appreciate the amazing sound capability of HTC 8XT with HTC BoomSound™, introducing for the first time on Windows Phone 8 dual front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier that brings people closer to their music, videos and games they love. In addition, Beats Audio™ enables studio-quality sound, so listeners hear music the way the artist intended with unique audio tuning that delivers thundering bass, soaring midrange and crisp highs. And HDR recording uses advanced dual microphones and audio processing to capture clean, rich sound that is worthy of high-definition video.

“Inspired by the design that won the prestigious ‘red dot award: product design 2013,’ the new HTC 8XT brings a truly crafted smartphone with brilliant color, soft-to-the-touch texture and tapered design to be comfortable in the hand,” said Mike Woodward, president North America, HTC Corporation. “A pleasure to hold and a pleasure to hear, the front-facing stereo speakers are a first for a Windows Phone and deliver sounds that demand to be heard.”

HTC 8XT is also ideal for photo buffs with an 8-megapixel main camera with autofocus and LED flash, and a front-facing 1.6-megapixel camera. The main camera takes great photos in bright-light and low-light situations, and the ability to shoot video and take still pictures simultaneously. It also offers multishot burst mode to help capture the best picture of a moving photo subject, and a dedicated Windows Phone camera button to open the camera quickly, even when the phone is locked or sleeping, so users never miss an opportunity to capture life’s most important moments.

Inside the beautiful HTC 8XT is a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 400 processor with 1.4GHz dual-core CPUs supporting 4G LTE and 1080p video capture, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM memory, microSD™ memory card slot with support for up to 64GB memory cards, a crisp 4.3-inch display, Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, GPS support and 1,800mAh lithium-ion battery.

Advanced Features from Samsung

ATIV S Neo will offer a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, microSD memory card slot, international roaming, 4.8-inch high-definition display, Wi-Fi and 2,000mAh lithium-ion removable battery. Sharing is easier than ever with ATIV S Neo featuring ATIV Beam using near field communication (NFC) to share photos, music and video with other Windows Phone 8 and select Android™ devices. ATIV S Neo includes the Samsung exclusive Now feature, which highlights top news, weather and relevant information at a single glance.

“Samsung is committed to offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the rich Windows Phone 8 experience on the ATIV S Neo is a testament to this effort,” said Kevin Packingham, Samsung Mobile chief product officer. “The ATIV S Neo makes it easy to stay in-the-know while connecting with friends, family and colleagues, through new sharing features and powerful productivity applications.”

Having ATIV S Neo in your pocket means users can do more with their smartphone camera. It will offer an 8-megapixel main camera with LED flash and a front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera for video chat. It will include a variety of camera apps preloaded, including the Beauty Shot mode for smoother looking skin in headshots, Manga Camera to give pictures a fun twist by turning friends and family into cartoons, and built-in Photo Editor that allows the user to edit, color, effect, decorate or share their pictures quickly and easily.

These smartphones also make it easy for customers to stay productive with Office Mobile for Windows Phone. With Office Mobile, people can access, view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from anywhere. Plus, customers can count on Office Mobile to keep content and formatting intact so documents still looks great when back on a PC, Windowstablet or Mac.

Microsoft Office 365 offered by Sprint is available for small and mid-sized businesses. It includes Sprint’s unique Carefree Cloud migration and onboarding assistance, end-user level support, predictable monthly costs with no up-front infrastructure expenses, pay-as-you-go plans, savings by bundling all of the necessary tools and advanced options to simplify management further, all with a single bill and single point of contact. Sprint recently announced expanded plans available with Office 365, including enhanced audio conferencing and availability at select Sprint retail stores.

Sprint offers 4G LTE in top summer destinations like Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sprint offers 4G LTE service in 110 markets nationwide and expects to provide 200 million people with LTE by the end of 2013.

For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/network.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Specifications and features subject to change.
HTC, the HTC logo and HTC BoomSound are trademarks of HTC Corporation. Beats Audio is a trademark of Beats Electronics, LLC. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Samsung and ATIV S are both registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 4G LTE when used in connection with Samsung devices refers to the fact that the devices are capable of operating on Sprint’s 4G LTE network.

1The American Express Prepaid Reward Card (“Card”) provided in connection with this Rebate offer is a prepaid Card that is usable at U.S. merchants that accept American Express Card. Some limitations apply. The Card is not redeemable for cash (except where required by law) and does not provide ATM access. Use of Card constitutes acknowledgement that it is given as a reward and no consideration, value, or money has been paid by the holder to American Express in exchange for this Card. USE OF CARD IS SUBJECT TO THE CARDHOLDER AGREEMENT. SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAW, A $3.00 MONTHLY FEE WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST CARD BALANCE, STARTING SIX MONTHS AFTER CARD ISSUANCE, UNLESS FUNDS ARE EARLIER DEPLETED. For BALANCE, customer service and Cardholder Agreement, visit americanexpress.com/sprint or call 866-608-3756. Card issued by American Express Prepaid Card Management Corporation.

Google Play Edition HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 Available on Google Play Store

The Google Play editions of the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S 4 are available for purchase though the Google Play Store today. The Google Play editions of these flagship smartphones take the manufacturer software out of the devices, stripping away Samsung’s TouchWiz and HTC’s Sense UIs to deliver a pure Google experience. Both devices run on Android Jelly Bean, and will be among the first to receive important updates and Google goodies.

The handsets will come unlocked, allowing owners to choose a month-to-month contract or a pre-paid service option as they please.The device is not being sold outside of the U.S. however, so international customers will have to wait.

Both devices can be purchased through the Google Play Store, and will be shipped to customers starting on July 9th. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 comes with a price tag of $649 for the 16GB version, and the HTC One comes with 32GB of storage and is a little cheaper than the S 4, coming in at $599. So head on over to the Google Play Store if you’ve got your eyes on one of these powerful, pure Google experience touting  devices.

Red HTC One launching in mid-July exclusively to customers of UK’s Phones 4u

British phone retailer Phones 4u has managed to get an exclusive launch window for the HTC One in “Glamour Red.” The sexy device is designed to make a “striking yet sophisticated statement,” and will be available in mid-July.

Inside, it remains the same powerful smartphone as the “classic” silver or black HTC One, sporting a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM, 4.7-inch full HD screen, stereo speakers on the front with Boom Sound, durable aluminum unibody, Ultrapixel camera and a ton of built-in storage.

According to HTC’s President of EMEA Philip Blair, the red HTC One “demands attention, whilst maintaining the high standards set for sophisticated design and build quality.”

We tend to agree with that statement and can’t wait to see the red HTC One hitting other carriers’ offerings. We’ll let you know when this bad boy starts selling in other parts of the world. Stay tuned…

AT&T CEO compares Facebook's HTC First to Apple's failed ROKR experiment

AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega has told CNET that the carrier has sold all of its HTC First Facebook phones. While he declined to say exactly how many phones AT&T has sold, our sources revealed the phone was "disastrous" for HTC, and plans for a UK launch were scrapped last month. In response to poor sales, AT&T dropped the price of the First from $99 to $0.99, and according to de la Vega, the carrier has now cleared its inventory — the Facebook phone experiment is over.

WILL FACEBOOK GO IT ALONE LIKE APPLE?

Facebook's first foray into smartphones may not be for nothing. CNET quotes de la Vega comparing the HTC First to Motorola's "iTunes phone," the ROKR. Announced in September 2005, 16 months before Apple announced the iPhone, the ROKR is remembered by most as a tepid product that led the way for future success. Following an unsuccessful launch, Steve Jobs famously told his iPod team that he was "sick of dealing with these stupid companies like Motorola... Let's do it ourselves." Although the HTC First doesn't seem likely to go on sale again, Facebook will continue to offer its Home launcher for other Android phones, and appears focused on improving the experience before considering a return with another Facebook-focused smartphone.

Just as AT&T was the only carrier to sell the HTC First, it was also the sole US carrier to sell the original ROKR. De la Vega believes his company's early faith in Apple helped it get "the inside track" on the iPhone. "We have a great relationship with Apple just like we have a great relationship with Facebook," de la Vega says, "we look forward to working with them to make Home better."

Want a Gold Plated HTC One? It’ll Only Cost You $2,900!

Goldgenie, the company responsible most recently for the gold Blackberry Q10, has done it again. Now a gold or platinum HTC One can be yours, though it’ll cost you a pretty penny. The gold-plated One is retailing for about $2,900 American!

Famed for introducing the Gold Superstar iPhone series to the market along with the Gold Samsung S4, global gold-plating giants Goldgenie are releasing another world first: the Gold HTC One phone.

Retailing prices start at £1895, Goldgenie’s Gold HTC One phone is available in a choice of Gold (£1895), Rose Gold (£1995), or Platinum (£2095) plating. Featured in either Silver or Black, users can choose 32GB or 64 GB of memory. All phones are delivered in a beautifully customised Goldgenie box, making this a complete gift-to-go.

If you want some bling bling on your ring ring, you better be prepared to pony up the big bucks!

HTC One with Windows Phone launching this fall?

It looks like HTC is working on an HTC One variant that would run Windows Phone 8 rather than Android. The information comes from Neowin, which claims that such a device could be launched at some point in the fall, featuring a 4- to 5-inch screen, “a mostly metal body,” and Windows Phone 8 GDR3. An Ultrapixel camera may also be included, but that’s still not confirmed.

The HTC One is the second best-selling high-end Android smartphone (after Samsung Galaxy S4) and it makes perfect sense for the Taiwanese company to rely on the popularity of its existing product to expand to other markets.

At present, HTC sells two Windows Phone devices, 8S and 8X, which sit in the shadow of Nokia’s Lumia range. The HTC One running Microsoft’s mobile platform could help shift the tide in HTC’s favor while at the same time helping the Redmond giant expand its market share…

HTC slashed executive pay by half after disappointing 2012

HTC cut total executive salaries, bonuses, and retirement pay in half last year, following poor financial results and lower-than-expected smartphone sales. In its annual report published today, spotted by the Wall Street Journal, HTC said it paid its top executives NT$660.5 million ($21.94 million) in 2012, down 51.4 percent from NT$1.36 billion ($45.18 million) in 2011. As the Taiwanese smartphone maker reduced costs, HTC CEO Peter Chou and president of engineering Fred Lui both saw their total compensation fall below NT$100 million ($3.3 million) for the first time in two years.

After seeing explosive growth between 2010 and 2011, HTC has seen its market share slide following strong competition from Samsung and Apple, poor marketing, and product delays. Last month, we reported that the company was losing top executives (some of which have since been replaced) as sales of the HTC First Facebook phone barely got off the ground. At HTC's annual shareholder meeting, Chou, who recently said that he would stick it out through the company's hard times, urged investors to be "patient" as it looks to push sales of its HTC One flagship smartphone with an increased focus on marketing. HTC is rumored to have paid $12 million for a two-year marketing campaign featuring Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr, rivalling Samsung's investment to give away one million copies of Jay Z's new album to Galaxy smartphone owners.

No Home for the HTC First anywhere, it appears

With the release of the ‘Facebook Phone’ postponed, Chris Donkin reckons the social networking site should stick to what it does best

It was no great shock to see the HTC First, AKA the ‘Facebook Phone’, being pulled by EE in the UK given the lukewarm reception it received in the US.

As soon as carrier AT&T announced it was dropping the price to less than a dollar, the proverbial vultures were circling over HTC HQ, with the internet awash with rumours the US network was going to pull the device completely.

The key selling point – in fact the only selling point anyone mentioned at the handset’s announcement – was the fact it came with Facebook’s new interface Home built in.

Facebook Home was – and still is – available on a handful of high-end devices but the interface’s ‘flagship’ was always meant to be the First.

As with the handset Home has been panned, with very few positive comments on the Google Play Store and an underwhelming overall rating of two and a half stars out of five – compared to four and a half for Facebook Messenger.

To someone who has had a play with Home on the Galaxy S III the reaction came as no surprise. I got the distinct impression this was the social network taking over the handset completely and wondered if that’s what people really wanted.

The app sits above the Android system, bombarding you with Facebook updates from ‘friends’ and anyone else on your Facebook news feed even while the phone lock screen is on.

In what felt like quite an intrusive feature, if someone sends you a Facebook message, an image of their head appears above whatever you are doing alerting you to the fact.

Staff at the Home/HTC First launch were enthusiastically saying this was an immersive social experience, but it just felt a little too much and, though they wouldn’t admit it, there must be a detrimental effect to battery life constantly downloading everything on your newsfeed.

Taking on Home and making it central to the handset was always a risk for HTC – especially when you consider it has been burned before by the HTC ChaCha and Salsa which bombed on release in 2011.

Perhaps it’s time Facebook stuck to what it knows best – although given its recent history, it may no longer have a choice.

We suspect Twitter won’t be making the same moves any time soon.

HTC ‘firing on all cylinders’ to reverse financial slump

Year-on-year profits down by 91.5 per cent in Q1, but Q2 expected to show improvements

HTC says it is now “firing on all cylinders” to help drive sales and boost its brand awareness.

The comments were made by HTC CEO Peter Chou (pictured), who was speaking as the manufacturer’s financial woes reached a new low, with profits dipping by 91.5 per cent year on year.

                                          

But Chou, who was addressing the media from the company’s headquarters in Taiwan, said recent efforts to improve its marketing strategy will be key to turning its fortunes around.

In January, Chou blamed HTC’s 90 per cent decline in quarterly profits on a “lack of marketing” of its brand and products.

The company appointed Benjamin Ho as its chief marketing officer to lead a project called ‘Marketing 2.0’, refocusing HTC’s efforts around holistic marketing and mass-market brand outreach.

Chou revealed in those three months, digital marketing spend increased by 250 per cent, and there was a 100 per cent increase in traditional media marketing, focused predominantly on driving sales of the HTC One.

The device is said to have broken all previous records on pre-orders, and UK and EMEA head Philip Blair suggested last month it is on track to become HTC’s fastest-selling handset of all time, branding it “the world’s best smartphone”.

Ho also took the decision to retire its ‘quietly brilliant’ slogan after a decade.

Strong momentum

Chou said: “We are going to run a very successful campaign on the marketing side and on the sales side. So we are firing on all cylinders.

“We expect this to be a very crucial quarter, coming out strong with momentum sustaining until the third quarter.

“Brand awareness is so important for us given a lot of suppliers are coming out strong and there is no differentiation in the market. That’s why we are extremely focused on getting better brand awareness. We are doing this through design innovation of the HTC One.

“And, of course, we also know that we have to greatly improve our go-to market approach in terms of marketing, in terms of channel. We have made great improvements in terms of HTC marketing and execution.

“This is probably the first time HTC has developed an HTC brand, and we are able to really integrate the brand, product and marketing execution all together at one time.”

HTC chief financial officer Chia-Lin Chang added: “We have improved a lot. We have a very good marketing strategy as well as execution strategy to support our HTC One launch. We are pretty confident this marketing campaign will propel us to the next level.

“It’s very important once you start launching the product, to have strong momentum coming out of the gate and to sustain that. So, we believe our spending has been optimal to support sales momentum.”

Google’s Sundar Pichai Announces HTC One Google Edition, Available June 26 For $599

Google will make another mobile phone available with stock Android soon. Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome, and Apps, announced at the D11 Conference that the company will sell the HTC One Google Edition for $599 on the Google Play store, beginning June 26.

Google has previously announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock Android through the Play Store, which will retail for $649. That device was announced during I/O, with availability also set for June 26.

“We’re developing a user experience that scales across the world[...],” Pichai said, explaining why the Google Edition devices are now a priority for the company. “We’re making Android the operating system that is consistent across all of these devices.”

“The challenge is related to what is great about Android [...] The scale and scope of Android is pretty breathtaking,” Pichai explained further. “From a Google perspective, we care about how users use Android and the user experience.”

HTC has already offered a similar device through its own online retail store, the HTC One Developer Edition. The Developer Edition is a $649.99 device that has 64GB of onboard storage, plus an unlocked bootloader. The new Google Play version of the One will differ in that it will also offer stock Android, and updates that arrive in time with those issued for Nexus devices and the Play version of the Galaxy S4. The Developer Edition also ships with Jelly Bean 4.1, but the HTC One Google Edition will ship with Jelly Bean 4.2.2. Also, the Google version will carry 32GB of internal storage instead of the 64 from the dev model. The Google HTC One works with GSM cellular networks.

HTC says it will continue to offer the Developer Edition direct from its own website, but the $599 Google Edition, with its GSM network support and initial U.S.-only availability, is probably the better buy for developers looking to not only try out the hardware but also stay up-to-date on the very latest from Google’s OS.

The HTC One has already been well-received by critics, and offering it with a stock Android experience is sure to be a hit with a specific audience. It’s also impressive that it will cost $50 less than the competition from Samsung. But now that Google is clearly interested in expanding the so-called “Nexus Experience” beyond its own line of co-branded devices like the Nexus 4 from manufacturer LG, it’ll be interesting to see what role those “blessed” handsets will have in the future, or whether “Nexus” becomes more of a designation than a specific device line.

HTC Reportedly Pulls The Plug On A 12-Inch Windows RT Tablet, But A Smaller Tab Lives On

HTC is currently sailing through a patch of rough seas, and it seems as though the company is starting to rethink its tablet strategy. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, HTC was planning to put together a 12-inch Windows RT tablet for release later this year before scrapping it due to cost and anemic overall demand for Windows RT.

That’s not to say that the beleaguered Taiwanese OEM is ditching Windows RT completely — there’s reportedly still a 7-inch RT tablet in the works, as well as another Android tablet. Bloomberg’s unnamed source goes on to note that demand for RT-powered tablets in general has been lackluster, so it made sense for HTC to pick its battles more carefully. After all, recent (albeit unconfirmed) Surface RT sales figures from back in March purport that Microsoft had only sold about a million units at the time — for a device meant to be the RT flagship, such numbers probably weighed heavily into the machinations of OEMs considering entering the RT fray.

Long time HTC watchers will know that focusing on a smaller number of quality devices is a tablet tactic the company has leaned on before. HTC’s recent history with tablets has been, well, pretty spotty. It’s first notable Android tablet in 2011 relied heavily on a smart stylus (a formula that Samsung would later turn into a winner) and just didn’t sell all that well, and its larger-screened followup saw similarly poor sales in the U.S. thanks to its incredibly high price tag — $699 with a contract. Clearly, things had to change.

HTC UK chief Phil Roberson said early last year that the company would be dialing back its focus on tablets, and true to his word HTC company spent much of 2012 trying to perfect its smartphone formula while facing ever-stiffer competition from rivals Samsung and Apple. Arguably the OEM has finally managed to hit its stride with the widely acclaimed One smartphone, but a single well-received device almost certainly won’t be enough to turn things around alone. It’s tough to say just how much of an impact a small Windows RT tablet will have on HTC’s flagging fortunes (I’m guessing it won’t move the needle much), but the company could use any boost it can get at this point. A quick look at HTC’s recently released fiscal Q1 2013 financials reveals a business that has definitely seen better days — it reported a mere $2.8 million in unaudited net income, down drastically from the year-ago quarter.

The Mini HTC One Will Be Called The HTC One Mini

There’s plenty of information swirling about theHTC One Mini thus far, especially considering it’s not an officially announced handset by any means. Still, we’ve seen pictures, learned about rumored specs, and today it would appear that we’re one step closer to confirmation.

The folks at TNW spotted a User Agent Profilethat was published to a website owned by HTC, the Taiwanese htcmms.com.tw.

According to the User Profile, the new phone will be called the HTC One Mini. Not much else is glaringly obvious from the profile, save for the fact that the phone will have a 720p display and run Android 4.2.

Past that, there isn’t much else to be plucked from the page full of code. However, there have been numerous leaks and rumors that have surfaced over the past few weeks.

Just last week, we got to see a picture of the alleged device in all its glory next to an HTC One. The HTC One is the Taiwanese handset maker’s latest flagship, following on the successes of the HTC One X that came before it. The One Mini is expected to pack lesser power into a similar design, for those looking for a smaller or more affordable handset with the same style.

That leak also surfaced some rumored specs, including a dual-core Snapdragon processor and dual front-facing speakers.

Before that, early in June, we stumbled upon a whole bevy of photos of the HTC One Mini, or at least a phone that looks incredibly similar to the HTC One Mini.

Phone makers are clearly aiming to spread out the love in terms of phone sizes, with a number of “mini” handsets making their way into stores recently. The HTC One Mini, though unconfirmed, is expected to be the latest to join that category of smartphone.

Sometimes, small size matters in a big way.

HTC Courts Bully #2 From Weird Science For A Much-Needed Marketing Boost

Look, there’s no question that HTC’s in a bit of trouble, and it’s at least partially because of its marketing woes. While HTC just recently posted some weak quarterly financials, rivals like Samsung are flush with cash to pump into their marketing and ad budgets. That said, HTC is looking to make a big a splash as it can, and Bloomberg reports that the Taiwanese OEM has reportedly tapped none other than Robert Downey Jr. for a two year, $12 million smartphone ad campaign.

Yes, really. And to be clear, they’ve reportedly inked a deal to feature RDJ’s likeness, not that of movie alter-egos like Tony Stark/Iron Man (though really, wouldn’t a tie-in like that make more sense?). Bloomberg’s Tim Culpan goes on to note that Downey will get final say over the ad campaign’s creative elements, which seems like it could go either way. He may be a gifted improvisor, but one could argue that the least thing HTC needs right now is yet another voice attempting to steer the company’s message.

After all, HTC spent much of last year looking for a bold thinker to fill its CMO position, and went through two of the them before CEO Peter Chou decided to appoint someone from outside the company. That someone was Benjamin Ho who served as (among other things) CMO for Motorola’s Asia Pacific operations. Since he officially took over the job, he’s been talking up how HTC’s “quietly brilliant” days are over, noting to the Wall Street Journal back in March that a punchier approach was needed to stand out in a crowded sea of competitors and that the company planned to double its global marketing budget to do it. Naturally, HTC has never provided a hard number — last year the company said it spent a mere 1/6th of what Samsung does on marketing — so it’s tough to gauge just how much this $12 million deal could hurt if it flops. Here’s hoping RDJ doesn’t get embroiled in any new scandals any time soon.

Canada’s Mobilicity and Videotron soon to start selling HTC One

The hot-new HTC One is already available from a number of carriers in Canada — including Bell, Rogers, TELUS and SaskTel — and the list may not stop there. Two smaller players, Mobilicity and Videotron, are apparently preparing to join this trend, as well.

The information comes from XDA-Developers Forums, where one thread talks about two Android smartphones identified as “CA_Videotron VIDEO001″ and “CA_Dave DAVE_001.” DAVE, for those who don’t know, stands for “Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Holdings Inc.” which operates as Mobilicity.

Of course, this is still in the “rumors phase” and we’ll rather have to wait for the official press release from either HTC or any of the two carriers (or both) when we can get back to you with all the details, including the price. We do know the HTC One is sold by most Canadian carriers for $99.99 with a three-year contract or $650 sans any strings attached. It’s fair to guess Mobilicity and Videotron will keep a similar price though you never know…

HTC offers a $25 Google Play gift card to U.S. citizens buying HTC One between now and July 15th

After testing the free $25 Google Play gift card offer with three of Canada’s largest carriers, HTC is bringing it to the United States. Under the deal, anyone who bought the HTC One and activated it in the U.S. between now and July 15th will get a $25 voucher to use for apps and games.

There is a limit of one registration per email account, and codes will be delivered to registered email address within 72 hours of registration.

So if you do grab the HTC One, head over to this page to leave your email, and expect a response with a voucher that you can redeem for some free stuff. It’s that easy. 

And we want to know – what will you spend that money on?

HTC Butterfly S announced: 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 CPU, UltraPixel camera and a 5-inch screen

As expect, HTC has officially announced the Butterfly S at its event in Taiwan. The new device is a successor to the original Butterfly, sporting the same-sized 5-inch full HD screen along with other high-end hardware like UltraPixel camera on the back, 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera, 2GB of RAM, solid 3,200mAh battery and 16GB of built-in storage. Unlike the company’s flagship device, HTC One, the Butterfly S sports a microSD card slot and a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor clocked at 1.9GHz.

HTC will start selling its new phone in July in Taiwan, asking NT$22,900 (about $766) for the unlocked, SIM-free device. Unfortunately, there’s no word when it will also be available in other parts of the world like Europe and the Americas. We do hope these regions will get this phone with Verizon perhaps announcing the Butterfly S as a Droid DNA2. We don’t have any such information, but we’ll make sure to get back to you as soon as we hear something new on this…

The HTC One Mini Is The Perfect Robin To The One’s Batman

The days of a standard phone size are gone. 3.5-inch? 4.3-inch? 5-inch? Phone makers are less concerned with which size is right, and clearly becoming more concerned with offering as many sizes as possible.

Case in point: Engadget has surfaced a leaked photo of what appears to be a smaller version of the HTC One, or the One Mini. Obviously, the photo itself isn’t confirmed, nor is the phone, but the picture seems to match up to some earlier leaks, so at least leak volume seems to be lending credibility.

According to Engadget’s source, the HTC One Mini has a 4.3-inch 720p display, a metallic unibody design, Android 4.2.2 complete with Sense and BlinkFeed, and all powered by a Snapdragon 400 dual-core chip. None of this is confirmed, but we do call into question the metallic unibody design, as the picture appears to show a plastic bezel on the phone.

You’ll also notice that there is Beats branding on the phone, as well as the same front-facing speakers that HTC is pushing as a key feature of the One series.

Thrilling.

Perhaps more interesting than the phone itself, though, is the constantly evolving nature of smartphone size trends. Remember when Zoolander came out? Derek answered a phone that was the size of a mini army action figure, and finally heard the voice of God.

Before Apple ushered in the era of all-touch devices, small was the new new thing in cell phones. Clearly, that changed. Android manufacturers pushed against Apple in size, knowing that Jobs was reluctant to deviate past the 3.5-inch iPhone screen.

Galaxy devices had larger screens, Droids had larger screens, and HTC jumped on board, too. Until one day, Apple announced that the iPhone 5 would have a 4-inch display, the first time that the size of the iPhone display had ever changed. It was almost unsettling.

Zoom to today.

Android manufacturers are pulling back into 4- to 4.3-inch territory with phones like the Motorola Razr M, the Galaxy S4 Mini, and now the HTC One Mini. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Apple is experimenting with even larger screen sizes, according to a recent report by Reuters.

In other words, they’re covering all the bases they can. Perhaps I’m annoyed that my 4-inch iPhone 5 doesn’t fit as snuggly in the pocket of my jeans, whereas a friend of mine could be downright obsessed with the video viewing and gaming experience on his giant Galaxy Note 2.

People are different, and so must their phones be. But it also seems clear that phone makers, while spreading a variety of sizes out in front of consumers, are still looking for the sweet spot.

So where will we land? Your guess is as good as mine, but be prepared for some more back and forth before phone makers have figured out how to please our eyes, our hands, and our pants pockets all at the same time.