HTC eyes sales boost for Windows phones

NEW DIRECTION: A visitor playing with a HTC Radar smartphone at the Microsoft booth in Taipei. HTC is hoping that that its Windows-based smartphones will boost lagging sales due to stiff competition from Apple and other Android rivals such as Samsung. - Reuters

NEW YORK: HTC Corp has high hopes that Microsoft Corp software will boost its smartphone sales due to a strong new design and support from wireless service providers, according to Jason Mackenzie, HTC’s president of sales and marketing.

Taiwan’s HTC, which derives most of its revenue from phones based on Google Inc’ Android software, is facing a sharp sales decline as it struggles to compete with iPhone maker Apple Inc and Android rivals such as Samsung Electronics.