PR releases

HTC launches world’s first tri-band 3G Windows Mobile PDA and 3G Smartphone

15 June, 2006: London - HTC, the world’s leading provider of Windows Mobile® devices, today launched the world’s first tri-band 3G Windows Mobile Pocket PC [TyTN] and 3G smartphone [MTeoR] under the new HTC brand identity.

HTC will continue to support its operator-branded products and OEM partners as a key priority. At the same time, HTC will provide its new branded products to its existing Qtek channels, distributors, enterprise and operators, who do not carry operator-branded products. Migrating the Qtek brand to the new HTC brand identity will enable HTC to provide better direct support to those customers.

HTC is well known in the industry as the company behind many of the most popular operator-branded devices. It has established unique partnerships with key mobile brands, including the leading operators in Europe, US and Asia, and supplies products to industry leading OEMs. HTC will also continue to support in-life Qtek products to its European channel and distributor partners.

Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation said: “We have a rich heritage of innovation and aim for our products to continue being the devices of choice on the Microsoft Windows Mobile platform. Our operator and OEM strategy remains key to this success, and we are committed to further strengthening our partner relationships by providing customised and differentiated offerings.”

Pivotal to HTC’s further strengthening of its European presence is the development of a comprehensive, multi-channel support package for retail, distribution and operator partners to help them maximise market opportunities.

The package for partners will include: richer device propositions, dedicated customer support, product training and toolkits, online and marketing support. It has also launched its first range of accessories – including Bluetooth headsets and in-car kits.

HTC is launching a new website (www.htc.com) containing product information and support, tips for using new devices and applications plus an online shop. Technical support will also be provided through HTC’s service centre, handling repairs, usage enquiries and product advice.
Peter Chou commented: “We are known for our relentless dedication to innovation. Smart mobility, the convergence of business applications and consumer functionality, is the future. We aim to continually develop new products to empower users on the go, providing more freedom in the way they live their lives.”

The first devices to be offered with HTC brand are the HTC TyTN and the HTC MTeoR. These will be available from late July.

“We're thrilled to see HTC launching the TyTN and MTeoR under the new HTC brand, which further adds to HTC’s stellar record of innovation on the Windows Mobile platform,” said Pieter Knook, Senior Vice President, Mobile & Embedded Devices Division, Microsoft Corp. “These devices are defining a whole new category of phones with a range of entertainment and productivity options.  An HTC brand also brings more choice to Windows Mobile customers in a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse mobile market."

The HTC TyTN is the latest innovation from HTC. It delivers a wealth of rich features, showcasing the ultimate ‘Office in your pocket’ experience for business users on the move. Business critical functionality, encased in a sleek, stylish form factor, offers the ultimate range of connectivity options including: tri-band UMTS 3G which will allow users to roam across Europe, US and Asia, plus GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a mini-USB port, making data transfer simple – anytime, anywhere.

Designed with easy messaging in mind, TyTN features Direct Push email technology available with Windows Mobile 5.0, internet browsing, synchronization with Microsoft Outlook® Calendar, Contacts and email, and the ability to work on applications in the Microsoft Office suite such as Word, Excel®, PowerPoint® and viewing PDF documents. TyTN comes equipped with a slide-out, ergonomic QWERTY keyboard and 2.8” colour display with touch-screen. It also features a jog wheel for easy, one-hand operation.

Florian Seiche, Vice President of HTC Europe added: “TyTN is our strongest combination of functionality and connectivity in a device to date. It’s the world’s first tri-band UMTS 3G device, which will allow users to roam freely across 3G networks for a higher speed experience across Europe, US and Asia. The TyTN has been designed to closely replicate the Windows desktop experience on a mobile device. It will appeal to heavy messaging and business users as it makes browsing and internet surfing a fast reality.”

TyTN is not all work and no play. It’s easy to sync-up to a PC to download music, video and pictures, and store them on a micro SD card to play back on the go. It is also a sharp shooter, featuring a 2 Megapixel camera with macro mode, on-screen controls and DSC (Digital Still Camera) functionality plus a second camera for video telephony. Available in Black & Silver, the TyTN doesn’t compromise in style. TyTN offers maximum functionality packaged in a sleek form factor, weighing in at 180g but extremely compact in size.

The HTC MTeoR, the world’s first 3G Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone, is a stylish, slim-line, candy bar device. It may be small, just 112.4 x 49 x 14.8mm and weighing a mere 120g, but this neat device is a powerful and “smart” phone. The HTC MTeoR features Windows Mobile 5.0 Direct Push technology for immediate synchronization of email, calendar and notes plus document viewers for PDF, Word, Excel® and PowerPoint®. It’s the ideal choice for busy people on the road who only want to carry one small device.

With superb multimedia functionality it’s easy to store and play back music, video and pictures on the move. Coupled with its large 2.2” TFT LCD screen and built-in 1.3 Megapixel camera, the MTeoR truly has smart style.

Both devices will be available across Europe from late July.

About HTC

HTC designs, manufactures and markets innovative, feature rich smartphone and PDA devices. The company produces powerful handsets that continually push the boundaries to provide true mobility and freedom for its users.

Founded in 1997, HTC (High Tech Computer Corp.) made its name as the company behind many of the most popular operator-branded devices. It has established unique partnerships with key mobile brands, including the leading five operators in Europe, the top four in the US, and many fast-growing Asian operators. The company has also brought products to market with OEM partners and under its own Qtek brand. In June 2006 HTC consolidated to a single identity in Europe to resonate with both partner and end-user audiences.

HTC is the leading global provider of Microsoft Windows® Mobile-based devices and one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device sector. The company is listed on The Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For further corporate information, please visit: www.htc.com.tw