HTC will continue to support its operator-branded products and OEM partners “as a key priority” – customers include O2, Orange and T-Mobile.
At the same time, HTC will provide its new HTC-branded products to its existing Qtek channels, distributors, enterprise and operators who do not carry operator-branded products. For the first time HTC will be directly involved in end-user sales and marketing strategies and in providing technical support to end customers.
At the press launch HTC people were talking about “further strengthening of its European presence” via “the development of a comprehensive, multi-channel support package for retail, distribution and operator partners to help them maximise market opportunities.” That apparently will include “richer device propositions” (which seems to mean more and better products) as well as dedicated customer support, product training and toolkits, online and marketing support.
The first HTC products on sale are the TyTN and MTeoR (yep, those are the names – it’s not some typographic glitch on our part). The HTC TyTN is a Windows Mobile 5.0 phone that offers tri-band GSM, 3G, EDGE and WiFi as well as the usual Bluetooth and Infrared connectivity options. It has a big 2.8in touchscreen TFT display and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.
TyTN also features a 2mp stills camera plus a second VGA camera for video telephony.
The HTC MTeoR is another tri-band 3G Windows Mobile phone, this one with a 2.2in colour TFT display and 1.3mp camera.
Both devices will be available across Europe from late July.
HTC has also launched its first range of accessories, including Bluetooth headsets and in-car kits.