HTC mum on rumored HTC One mini shortage

[Windsorhai]

HTC mum on rumored HTC One mini shortage

2013/09/25 13:30:54

Taipei, Sept. 25 (CNA) HTC Corp. declined to comment Wednesday on a report that the Taiwanese phone maker is facing a shortage of the downsized version of its HTC One flagship device.

The shortage of the HTC One mini, a 4.3-inch smartphone launched two months ago, was due in part to "a casing shortage arising from design difficulties," Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing an anonymous source.

That has left HTC unable to meet consumer and telecom operator demand for the phone, another source told Reuters, increasing the possibility that the company will post its first net loss in the current quarter.

In an e-mail reply to CNA, HTC said "we don't comment on rumors or speculations."

Calls to Taiwanese smartphone distributors on Wednesday morning found that the HTC One mini was available on the spot without any delays, but it was not clear if shortages were surfacing in overseas markets.

The struggling smartphone maker has projected an operating margin of zero to minus 8 percent for the third quarter, meaning that it will at best break even during the period.

Many market analysts believe HTC will fail to reach its third quarter sales target of NT$50 billion (US$1.69 billion) to NT$60 billion, as the Taoyuan-based company continues its efforts to clear inventories of aging products.

HTC shares had fallen 3.93 percent to NT$134.5 as of 12:47 p.m. Wednesday on the local bourse.

(By Jeffrey Wu)