HTC has had something of a Cinderella story over the past few years. The brand (which was nowhere near the household name it is now, thanks to tying its fate to Android) has become a serious contender and a big name in the mobile hardware business—big enough to tangle with Apple, although that’s bordering on passé.
The manufacturer posted its third quarter results today, boasting high profits and shipments since this time last year. Well above in fact: Year over year, HTC has increased profits 68-percent and shipments 93-percent.
Expectations have been high given how well HTC’s finances have performed the past year. In April it was announced the brand had surpassed legacy names like Nokia and RIM in worth, and has managed to acquire more market share than RIM to become the fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer.
It’s been a quick ride to the top for HTC, and an inarguably profitable one for the handset and tablet-maker. But can it sustain such rampant growth? The bar has been set and there are new expectations for a company that came out of nowhere to best RIM, and some of this success might hinge on upcoming releases. Buzz surrounding the Rezound has been building, although the Sensation was something of a disappointment. Regardless, HTC has secured a name for itself as a top-tier Android handset maker, right alongside Samsung.
It’s a good position to be in, but Samsung is also a formidable foe and easily the go-to for Android manufacturing—and also a company with a lot of resources and deep pockets. HTC will having to amp up production as well as show off another device for the holiday season.
