“High Tech Computer, the Taiwan based smart phone maker, has reportedly sold 2 million of the Microsoft-based mobile phones it developed to compete with the iPhone last year, the Touch family of handsets,” Anshu Shrivastava reports for TMCnet.
“HTC Touch made its debut last year in June, a few weeks ahead of the iPhone. The HTC Touch uses Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 software and has a touch screen that takes up most of its face, similar to the iPhone,” Shrivastava reports.
“At last week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco Apple CEO Steve Jobs said his company had sold 4 million iPhones since launch,” Shrivastava reports.
Full article here.
If there’s no accounting for fools, someone forgot to tell HTC and Microsoft.
Apple’s OS X-based iPhone:
Direct link via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h5-VZoEhi0
HTC’s Windows Mobile-based HTC Touch:
Direct link via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivxGe2znZQI
2 Million in the US or 2 Million worldwide? I bet there’s a huge market for iPhone knockoffs in Asia!
And the next time those two million customers need a phone, they’ll know better and get an iPhone.
Apparently they’ve learned a trick or two from Microsoft.
The big difference is that they had so many phones that were given free with a new account. If they actually tried to charge the premium price of the iPhone for one of these…it’d be far less.
Sounds like the trick from Micro$oft. They delivered them to the telco’s and now they are stuck with useless paper weights.
Great, they’ve managed about half that of the iPhone in over a greater period of time. And no word of whether this is US only or world wide (thus I will assume world wide sales).
Color me unimpressed.
I feel sorry for the suckers who bought into this piece of crap thinking it works like an iPhone. Just like the poor souls who got tricked into thinking the LG Voyager is a multi touch phone environment.
Little to they know that yes it is touch at the first layer. Like skins on your OS, but in reality that is where any similarities end. The rest of the experience from the applications and the OS is pure Windows Mobile garbage. It’s not a new UI interface from the ground up. Its another WinAmp skin type for your phone.
Has any one used one?
It can’t be as bad as the clip, can it?
people do not realize its the software, stupid!
had diner the other night, and our friend was telling me how verizon was coming out with a “touch screen” phone, just like the iPhone.
Just nodded
2 million worldwide, of course.
@HotinPlaya
Funny you should mention that. I was out to dinner with some friends the other night too and one of them mentioned that the iPhone can’t be “all that the hype says it is”. All I said was, “Dude, go down a couple of blocks to the Apple store and try one after we eat. If you don’t think it lives up to the hype by the time you are done, I will pay for your dinner.”
He did. And he ended up paying for his own meal.
haha.
Having used all types of pda from treos moto p990i xda Exec and so on the only thing that i find a little bit of a pain is no user apps unless you hack if and when apple let the iphone free it will be a world better as of now its the best mobile comms device there is there a few bits missing to make it the best phone but its getting there .
I think the man in the second video should consider investing in some toilet paper….
@smackman
Awesome. Ahh if only we can do that everyone who is considering the HTC and Verizon LG wannabe iPhones.
I tried the HTC Touch at a Sprint store a few weeks ago. Anyone who buys one has never “touched” an iPhone, because its functionality pales in comparison. The Touch interface is a mirage–basic, sluggish and confusing at best…90% of the interface is plain old stylus-directed Windows Mobile 6. The browser and media capabilities were limited and cumbersome in my time with the device.
Where is the Apple Legal Department?
Oh its great to hear you good old boys… and gals (tho I have my suspicions about Chrissy) talking up the iPhone! Its a success in its own back yard… because you’re light years behind the rest of the world whenit comes to what mobile users need! I’m bored of the iPhone! For the love of God! America is so easily pleased! You kiss-arse shareholders should wake up and smell your own bullshit! The iPhone has failed to sell in the UK… fact!!!!! I love Apple for all the right reasons… great OS… on fabulous desktops and laptops that makes my life a joy! But the iPhone is not the answer… its a nice toy for a few die-hards and should be applauded for its beauty! But as an every day phone… for the majority of everyday users… its way too slippy!!! Europe and more importantly Asia are light years ahead in this arena… not only in affordable, non-breakable handsets… but especially when it comes to rich content on mobiles… subscription for music IS the future… get used to it… and admit that the good old US of A needs to catch up!
dude247
Dude!……
Every time that HTC video is posted here, I feel the urge to have to click on it and watch it. I guess I like self-inflicted pain.
What HTC didn’t report was that 1.9 million of those phones that they claimed they sold have been returned.
dude247
You forgot your prozac dude!
dude247
He may have a point, most likely sales of the iPhone will start to dry up.
(or not…)
Met a teacher today that used an old apple way back. They they went to PCs cause the software (special) only supported the pc.
Now, she is older and does not want to learn anything new. Just wants things to work. Sadly she will be stuck with PCs just because she is too lazy to read and consider.
What kind of teacher quits learning??? One who has forgotten how to teach. JMHO
Apple should sell over 10M by now if they started selling the iPhone unlocked. but they just think a little different and they just make more moeny out of each iPhone sold. so they tied up with AT&T;, O2, etc to have some piece of their customers monthly service fee. so 4M units sold on the first 200 days is a very good number if you add that monthly fee they got from the service provider. iPhone is a few times more profitable than any other cell phone on the market. so the front end number might not be prefect, but at the end of the day they make hugh money.
@dude247
let’s see what the quarterly reports disclose about holiday, year-end sales of iPhone. Then let’s see what happens when the SDK becomes widely available. I admit: fanboi all the way, but having the true Interweb in my pocket gives me wood all the time
@dan
Glad you’ve got a pocket full of wood dan
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Maybe some people can’t get an iphone where they live? I know I can’t!!
I wonder how many knock off copies of Vista have been sold in Asia or Worldwide?
Not that many I’d wager!
not everyone wants the best product or will even acknowledge that there are better products.
Wish all you fanboyz will get over it.
Be proud that everyone doesn’t have or want an Apple product.
I don’t want my competitors using the same superior equipment as me.
Leave it alone already.
Just because you/me/we are correct does NOT mean that others will listen…it is human nature.
my 2 euros
mikal
This news has chairs flying in Cupertino. All of Apple’s R & D money as well as the Apple propaganda machine can’t hide the fact that the HTC Touch is way cooler than an I-Phone. From the innovative Windows Mobile to its remarkable touch interface the HTC Touch has revolutionized mobile phones and for the better.
Besides, Apple’s Multi-touch system is too complicated—the awkward two fingers on the I-Phone vs. the simplicity of one finger on the Touch—and the I-Phone is prohibitively expensive. The HTC Touch is all anyone talks about. Back to the drawing board, Apple. Again.
Hey Apple, what does it feel like to have Microsoft and their magnificent partners kick your ass time and time again?
Your potential. Our passion.™
HTC needs a better looking hand model.
re: Apparently they’ve learned a trick or two from Microsoft.
—
So M$ taught them how to extort, create inferior products and user interfaces and screw the customer for every penny they can get while making the customer think they have got a good product.
Great business model you have there!
“I wonder how many knock off copies of Vista have been sold in Asia or Worldwide?”
Actually, it sells quite well. Usually for five dollars a copy.
Black market MS goods are huge all over Asia. Vista is packaged with Mickey Mouse in Christmas garb. That’s ironic.
China and many other Asian nations have zero respect for intellectual property ownership. Remember the original iMac ripoffs?
People in Asia will buy crap because they can.
Fsck off ZuneTang, you village idiot.
Ampar-bot:
“This comment is just a placeholder for a stupid pun that I’ll think of later. God I love humor of the 1930s.”
Good times.
Taco Bell’s new Gordita wrapped soft taco is also doing very well…
No, people in Asia will buy crap because the real thing is often not available, or is retiredly overpriced.
People in the US will buy crap *food* because they can.
Zune Tang, you were better when there were some random facts in your comments. Reading your latest posts, it seems like you don’t even try anymore.
WOW! I played both videos at the same time & the guy took 3 times as long to do what the iPhone guy did. Pathetic!
PEOPLE:
Ignore the trolls.
When reading through the comments here I simply skip over the trolls like ZT. It’s not worth cluttering my thoughts with intellectual pap.
I recently changed mobile providers, one of the reasons being that I got a nice new – and free – Motorola KRZR K3 (an upgraded, 3G version of the K1, and IMHO the sexiest RAZR variant yet). If I went for a more expensive plan, I could have gotten a Touch for free. No thanks!
Given that I am in Australia, I’m sure they’re giving heaps of these away in Asia. They’re just competing with other crappy “smart” phones that the mobile providers also give away for free – I doubt anybody’s actually paid for one.
Let me just say that of all the responses to my posts here at MDN Hairy Wolf’s is my favorite. I’m flattered.
Your potential. Our passion.™
“Has any one used one?
It can’t be as bad as the clip, can it?”
i have said it before, i will say it again.
yes, i have used it.
no it isn’t as bad as the clip.
…the clip makes it look MUCH better that it is in reality.
Stupid is as stupid does. Those dumb enough to waste there money on the HTC, I’m sorry.
Don’t concern yourself MDN, it’s just training wheels for people till they can get the real thing.
I’m more concerned about the frigging love compatability bullshit I keep getting when I came here. I’m the only guy in the office who gets them. And I’m the Mac head.
You are not helping the cause.
I concur with shen’s succinct review of the HTC Touch.
The iPhone was only officially available in the US for most of the first 200 days. Late in that period it became officially available in 3 more countries (Germany, France and UK.)
The HTC Touch has been available for a longer period of time, in a much wider range of countries. It has been available both from a much wider range of carriers and as a stand-alone model. Despite that overwhelming potential sales advantage (official exposure and support for potentially billions of customers that the iPhone has yet to reach) they only managed to sell half as many units. That’s assuming the best-case scenario for HTC and Microsoft, that they are playing by the same rules and counting sales instead of units shipped. If they are actually counting units shipped, and the carriers and retailers are holding a significant number of those in retail, it looks even worse for them.
Either way you slice it, it illustrates two things:
– Regarding the HTC Touch, the wisdom of P.T. Barnum still applies.
– The comparatively much more impressive market response to the iPhone shows that there is a market for quality products when they are truly, groundbreakingly useful. That having been said, getting it right is still a balancing act, and Apple has been too far ahead of the curve on previous occasions.
@ dude247
Congrats, dude! You covered every bullet point on the list.
{looney spotted}
And… “dude247”?
Didn’t I see you on Chris Hansen’s show?
HTC -Touch it with a sledge hammer.
however… you can install apps on an htc touch.
This news has chairs flying in Redmond. All of Microsoft’s R & D money as well as the Microsoft’s propaganda machine can’t hide the fact that the iPhone is way cooler than an HTC Touch. From the innovative mobile OSX to its remarkable touch interface the iPhone has revolutionized mobile phones and for the better.
Besides, Microsoft’s Multi-touch- due to arrive in 09, is too complicated—the awkward one finger on the HTC Touch vs. the simplicity of two finger on the iPhone—and the HTC Touch is prohibitively expensive. The iPhone is all anyone talks about. Back to the drawing board, Microsoft. Again.
Hey Microsoft, what does it feel like to have Apple and their magnificent partners kick your ass time and time again?
Your potential. Our Blunder(s).™
Let me just say that of all the responses to my posts here at MDN IP’s is my favorite. I’m flattered.
Your potential. Our Blunder(s).™
however… you can install apps on an htc touch.
—-
…And millions of virus’s too.
Of course Windows mobile is sooooo secure an OS isnt it (NOT).
When Apple releases the SDK the iPhone will be even better than it is with professionally designed third party apps that will be available on the Apple wedbsite.
No shitty and amatuerish apps will be avaialble on the iPhone – only the best for the best mobile communication device on the planet.
The fact that Apple is better than MS at both vision and execution when it comes to product, OS and application design is nothing new or alarming. What has chairs flying is the fact that Apple has such massive market share when it comes to entertainment (music and movies), is making huge strides very quickly and rewriting the road map in telecommunications, and is gaining market- and mindshare in personal computing.
Distilled down to the essence MS exists to monopolize markets strategically by controlling/absorbing/extinguishing potential competitors and holding all of the control that they can for as long as they can. Apple certainly has nothing against monopolizing a market (or two, or more), but the way that they go about doing it differs significantly.
The entire iPod and iPhone stories have been about pulling in customers to a better user experience rather than locking them out of alternatives (which have been, and continue to be both plentiful and less expensive.) Apple has learned how to sell quality, and has enough presence and momentum at this point that MS must be (should be) worried to the point of changing their underlying business model and leadership to address the threat. The era of MS’s huge, seemingly everlasting monopolistic control is coming rapidly to an end, and guys like Gates and Ballmer have long since forgotten how to innovate and compete on anything resembling a level playing field.
I have a windows mobile phone and can install apps on it-I installed 1 app, a media player to replace the neutered version of media player.
I haven’t bothered to install anything else-because the apps suck, are slow to start up and I have very limited memory on it.
When the 3g iphone comes out-I will almost certainly dump my current phone and provider and get an iPhone.
2 million shipped…..to a warehouse
The Apple online store is offline as of 8am this morning. ???
When have the Chinese` ever done anything in the last 3 centuries that wasn’t a cheap and derivative imitation? I can’t wait ’till their cars arrive on our shores.
I was at the StuffLive and What HiFi gadget show in London last year. Saw the HTC stand and went over. Talked to a sales guy about the Touch. He tried to demo it to me. Neither of us could get the thing to function properly, it was so slow, awkward and unresponsive. I then pulled out my iPhone (not available in UK then) and gave him a demo. His jaw dropped and he was literally lost for words.