Nov/Dec 2005

The latest newcomer in the UK's mobile phone market is Taiwanese-based HTC, which stands for High Tech Computer Corporation. Its product range should give a boost to the Windows Mobile operating system, since it has a long-standing relationship with Microsoft.

HTC already has a European presence through selling own-branded PDAs and phones through partners such as Orange, T-Mobile, O2, Vodafone and Telefonica. It has produced devices such as O2's celebrated XDA and Dell PDAs.

Now it is to set up its own full sales and marketing operation here, and has chosen Slough as the location.

HTC is supporting the new initiative with a full portfolio of "smart" devices based on the Window Mobile 5.0 platform. This includes the Qtek 8310, a GPRS/EDGE-capable smartphone with QVGA screen, megapixel camera and optional Wi-Fi; and the Qtek 9100, a GPRS/EDGE-capable compact messaging PDA with full slide-out keypad and megapixel camera.

The flagship device, the Qtek 9000, is an executive-style 3G-capable PDA with a high-resolution twist and fold VGA screen, megapixel camera and Wi-Fi built in.

Our pictures are of devices already on sale elsewhere, and though they may not exactly reflect the latest range, they provide a good feel for the company's style and approach.