The company's CEO Peter Chou says that his company is "excited" about the possibility of getting into the wearable-tech space. October 21, 2013 4:55 AM PDT HTC CEO Peter Chou (Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET) HTC might be having its fair share of trouble in smartphones, but the company is seeing new opportunities in wearable technology and tablets, its two top executives said in an interview. Speaking to Financial Times in an interview published on Monday, HTC CEO Peter Chou said that the wearable technology market is "a critical segment for us," but he's not so sure now is the time to jump into the space. "It's still too early," Chou said of the wearable technology space. "It has to meet a need, otherwise it's just a gimmick or concept, it's not for people's day-to-day lives." Chou's comments come as wearable technology is booming. Startups, like Pebble, are delivering smartwatches that appeal to a growing marketplace. Samsung, one of HTC's biggest competitors, has already jumped into the wearable market with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Where HTC plans to fit into that lineup is unknown. Related stories HTC CEO said to hand off duties to focus on reversing decline HTC's PR chief quits after 4 months New Nike FuelBand boasts better tracking Amazon, HTC to develop line of smartphones, report says Windows and HTC jump into jumbo phones Until Chou decides it's time to jump into wearable technology, his company will be focusing heavily on tablets, he told Financial Times. HTC, which has been practically silent on the tablet front, is planning something big for the space, its chairwoman Cher Wang told Financial Times, and will launch the slate when the time is right. "When the [HTC] tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive," Wang told the Financial Times. "There are a lot of devices to innovate . . . Ubiquitous intelligence is not just wearables." Looking ahead, Chou and Wang will either improve HTC's market position, or thrust it deeper into obscurity. A recent report from the Financial Times said Chou will temporarily give up some of his responsibilities to Wang so he can focus on product design and other key decisions that could improve the company's market position. Wang, meanwhile, will handle how the business is run. In either case, Chou and Wang have some work cut out for them. Earlier this month, HTC reported a net loss of NT$2.97 billion ($101 million) in the three-month period ended September 30, its first quarterly net loss since going public in 2002. During the same period a year ago, HTC generated a net profit of NT$3.9 billion.
The company's CEO Peter Chou says that his company is "excited" about the possibility of getting into the wearable-tech space.
HTC CEO Peter Chou
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
HTC might be having its fair share of trouble in smartphones, but the company is seeing new opportunities in wearable technology and tablets, its two top executives said in an interview.
Speaking to Financial Times in an interview published on Monday, HTC CEO Peter Chou said that the wearable technology market is "a critical segment for us," but he's not so sure now is the time to jump into the space.
"It's still too early," Chou said of the wearable technology space. "It has to meet a need, otherwise it's just a gimmick or concept, it's not for people's day-to-day lives."
Chou's comments come as wearable technology is booming. Startups, like Pebble, are delivering smartwatches that appeal to a growing marketplace. Samsung, one of HTC's biggest competitors, has already jumped into the wearable market with its Galaxy Gear smartwatch. Where HTC plans to fit into that lineup is unknown.
Related stories
- HTC CEO said to hand off duties to focus on reversing decline
- HTC's PR chief quits after 4 months
- New Nike FuelBand boasts better tracking
- Amazon, HTC to develop line of smartphones, report says
- Windows and HTC jump into jumbo phones
Until Chou decides it's time to jump into wearable technology, his company will be focusing heavily on tablets, he told Financial Times. HTC, which has been practically silent on the tablet front, is planning something big for the space, its chairwoman Cher Wang told Financial Times, and will launch the slate when the time is right.
"When the [HTC] tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive," Wang told the Financial Times. "There are a lot of devices to innovate . . . Ubiquitous intelligence is not just wearables."
Looking ahead, Chou and Wang will either improve HTC's market position, or thrust it deeper into obscurity. A recent report from the Financial Times said Chou will temporarily give up some of his responsibilities to Wang so he can focus on product design and other key decisions that could improve the company's market position. Wang, meanwhile, will handle how the business is run.
In either case, Chou and Wang have some work cut out for them. Earlier this month, HTC reported a net loss of NT$2.97 billion ($101 million) in the three-month period ended September 30, its first quarterly net loss since going public in 2002. During the same period a year ago, HTC generated a net profit of NT$3.9 billion.
