Credit HTC with catching the trend of Android success early. The company produced models years ago that ran Palm software and early versions of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows. Those did not sell well, which kept HTC in the position of a niche provider as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Research-In-Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), and Nokia (NYSE: NOK). Now HTC is seen as a competitor to Apple. HTC already has 4G products in the market. Apple does not.
The HTC news shows that luck often plays an out-sized role in business success. HTC may have figured that Android would do well, but two years ago, that was nothing more than an educated guess. Android was also open source and free, which gave it a special attraction financially.
Whatever the reason, HTC has moved to the top of the smartphone business and left giants like Samsung, LG, and Nokia behind.
Douglas A. McIntyre