Smartphone Maker HTC Explores Strategic Options

An anonymous reader shares a Bloomberg report: HTC, the beleaguered manufacturer that once ranked among the world's top smartphone makers, is exploring options that could range from separating off its virtual-reality business to a full sale of the company, according to people familiar with the matter. The Taiwanese firm is working with an adviser as it considers bringing in a strategic investor, selling or spinning off its Vive virtual reality headset business, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. A full sale of HTC, which has businesses ranging from VR to headset manufacturing, is less likely because it doesn't fit obviously with one acquirer, one of the people said.

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[Z00L00K]

The downside is all the bloatware.

Cut down on the bloat and let people download the apps they really want to use.

I have a bricked HTC M9 due to the bloat, need a RUU for the Euro version to see if I can unbrick it.

Now I have a CAT S60, great phone but no Nougat or Oreo update in sight. The camera is however not the best but it's rugged and cope with dual SIM cards.

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[ctilsie242]

I have had five HTC phones as well (HTC Wizard, HTC One X Plus, HTC Desire HD, HTC A9, and a HTC M8.) All performed perfectly, the only reason I upgraded was just for speed. All the Android models were easily unlocked and a new ROM put on. I've done a lot of modding on those, and they are surprisingly brick resistant. Worst case, hold down volume-down and power, boot into HBOOT, and flash a RUU.

I'd definitely recommend them, as an alternative to Samsung.

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[kinocho]

I have had my share of HTC phones at the start of android (can't remember all the models), but I remember clearly that at some point the removed the sdcard, then the battery, then they made them more and more difficult to root and install roms, and afterwards it was just a matter of time. They shot themselves in the foot, they kept taking out the things people liked in their phones, what the hell did they expect was gonna happen? Most of the people I knew moved to nexus, and certainly all stopped buying ht

Re: Shame, because the easily make the best handse

[fubarrr]

The moment they stopped making PDAs for power users, they lost. Everything is as simple as that.

Samsung and HTC were evenly paced when both pursued that market, a single misstep by HTC and plonk..., Sansung went ahead

Not to say that they had huge leverage over Google when they did so

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[Anonymous Coward]

Show me how many PC clone makers from the 1980s are still alive today - Dell, is Gateway still in business? and that's it.

Gateway was bought by Acer.
Compaq was bought by HP.
IBM sold their PC business to Lenovo.

I'm sure there are ones I'm forgetting.

Dell, Gateway, HP, Asus, Acer

[rsilvergun]

Though Asus/Acer didn't get going in earnest until the 90s. To be fair nobody survives these days because if you're even a little weak you get bought out to stifle competition. We stopped enforcing Anti-Trust laws around 1995 or so.

Act before it's too late

[DontBeAMoran]

Steam/Valve, now is the time to buy the VR part of HTC: before it's too late.

Re:Act before it's too late

[oic0]

Why? They have a risk free business that prints money. Why get into a risky hardware business. They want the headsets to exist but they don't have any reason to take a risk making them.

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[DontBeAMoran]

But without HTC, what's left?
- Sony's VR headset is limited to PS4/etc.
- Oculus is Facebook-infected.
- Microsoft's going with its own thing as usual.
- Apple's going with its own thing as usual.

At this point I'd rather buy a VR headset from Viewmaster but all they sell is something to use with a smartphone. Given that smartphones keep changing sizes and shapes, that's not even a good short-term solution.

A lot of FUD around HTC

[rickb928]

I've had a G1, Sensation 4G, M7. M8, and now a U11. All superb for their times, the G1 surviving through Android DI think, and since it was released without working Bluetooth or an on-screen keyboard it grew up well. Cyanogenmod did the trick. The Sensation was surprisingly ho-hum, but the M7 on were superb. Apple should have used the M7 design. Sense is indeed the best manufacturer skin. My U11 is really, really nice. Ultimately nothing about the Galaxy S8 was worth $100 more, and the G7 is too late for

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[Raisey-raison]

I have the U11 and it is quite satisfying. It seems such a shame that HTC just got their mojo back with the U11 and now they are giving up. And they allow SD cards in their phones. It would be nice though if they made a pure Android phone, unlocked without any bloatware.

I'm also confused about how companies don't make money when they sell smartphones for ~ $700 which cost them $250 to make.