3 Jan 2008
High Tech Computer (HTC) is evaluating the possibility of adding a 3G chipset solution supplier in addition to Qualcomm so as to reduce the risk of relying on a single supply source, according to company CFO Hui-ming Cheng.
HTC was annoyed by recent media reports stating that concerns of a possible shortage of 3G chipsets at Qualcomm may affect HTC's revenues in the first quarter of 2008 and that Qualcomm's recent defeats in patent lawsuits against Broadcom has undermined the willingness of some telecom operators in North America to purchase Qualcomm-based handsets from HTC, said sources in Taiwan's handset industry.
In addition to costs, HTC will also take into account the maturity of hardware platforms and other considerations before adopting a new chipset solution, said Cheng, noting that the company is unlikely to switch to other hardware platforms in a short period of time.
Cheng also stated that the chipset shortages in the fourth quarter of 2007 might have resulted from over-bookings by handset vendors due to fast migration to 3G handsets in the global market, and so there won't be dramatic fluctuations of HTC's revenues in the first quarter of 2008.
Although handsets supporting 3G/3.5G standards will account for 70-80% of HTC's handset shipments in 2008, HTC will continue to manufacture the mainstream 2G/2.5G handsets for emerging markets where 3G infrastructure has not been installed, Cheng said.
