HTC to grow entry-level smartphone range in early 2015
HTC has revealed it has plans to expand its smartphone line-up with a selection of new entry-level handsets.
Jack Tong, the firm’s President of North Asia, revealed that next year will see more low-spec 4G smartphones hit store shelves.
He noted that this portfolio expansion would take place specifically in the first quarter of 2015.
The Digitimes report did note however, that HTC was expecting its shipments ‘to grow by a double-digit rate in the coming year’.
A focus on online sales was also outed in the report, with HTC pegged as ‘pushing sales through the internet’ to help hit these targets.
Online sales are currently accounting for ‘a double-digit ratio in [HTC’s] total sales’, but pushing entry-level handsets via the internet would help improve this further.
Related: HTC One M9 tipped to retain 5-inch 1080p display
The internet is typically a popular avenue for entry-level handsets, as the lack of overheards compared to brick-and-mortar retail helps keep costs to a minimum.
Premium handsets however, are often worth the investment of physical retail space due to the higher profit margins.
A final fact to be gleaned from the report is that HTC reckons its RE action camera has been quite successful so far.
The device has, reportedly, seen strong sales since launching earlier this month, with sales expected ‘to surpass 20,000 units’ by the end of this year.