Delay of HTC One smartphone costs HTC dearly – reports a mere US$2.8m profit

2 May 2013

The HTC One smartphone

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC has published unaudited results which present a damning picture – instead of basking in the success of sales of one of its best smartphones yet, delays in launching the HTC One have led to the company producing profits of just US$2.8m for Q1.

The company reported revenues of US$1.45bn (NT$42.8). Net income after tax was US$2.88bn (NT$85m).

The results are in line with the unaudited results HTC reported early in April.

However, they belie the fact the HTC One is probably the phone maker’s best product yet, winning plaudits at the Mobile World Congress in February, as well as notable firsts, like being the launch device for Facebook’s Home mobile interface.

“This was a pivotal quarter for HTC,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC, putting a brave face on things.

“In February, our teams set a new standard for smartphones, launching the new HTC One. The reviews of fans and critics alike have been overwhelmingly positive and we look forward to delivering on the promise of this device.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com