The HTC One smartphone debuts today. The new phone is offered by AT&T and Sprint.
This phone is available through the carriers, Radio Shack, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Amazon, Costco, Car Toys, Sam’s Club, HTC.com, and Home Shopping Network (HSN). AT&T offers both the 32GB and 64GB versions for $199 and $299 respectively with two-year contracts. Sprint offer the 32GB version for just $199 with contract. Sprint also allows users to switch to their service and who plan to keep their number can purchase the phone for just $99.
T-Mobile also offers the 16GB version of HTC One for a down payment of $99 and $20 monthly payments. The phone is currently available online but will soon be available in stores later on this month.
The HTC Corp (TPE:2498)’s One launch has been delayed for quite some time now thanks to component shortages. In March, Benjamin Ho (HTC’s Marketing Officer) explained to Wall Street Journal, “there is some shortage, because the phone’s camera was designed specifically for us, and production cannot be ramped up so quickly.”
There was also an unnamed HTC Corp (TPE:2498) executive who explained HTC’s poor relationship with suppliers, “The company has a problem managing its component suppliers as it has changed its order forecasts drastically and frequently following last year’s unexpected slump in shipments. HTC Corp (TPE:2498) has had difficulty in securing adequate camera components as it is no longer a tier-one customer.”
HTC’s delay left a negative impact on the company’s stock by driving first quarter profits down from last year’s $363 million (10.9 billion Taiwanese dollars) to $2.85 million (85 million Taiwanese dollars).
Now that the HTC One is officially on the market, the company should expect to see some significant financial increases. Although HTC doesn’t exactly enjoy the same level of success as some of it’s top competitors (Apple and Samsung) do, it certainly doesn’t fair to bad for a brand that’s not as popular.
