Wrong. HTC is a relatively new smartphone brand, they've been making smartphones since 2000. They created the first Windows Mobile smartphone, the first 3G Windows Mobile smartphone, the Palm Treo 650, the iPaq and the first Android smartphone. They were probably the major WiMo smartphone builder in WiMo's heydays (and they might very well still be).
HTC is a relatively new smartphone company? By that metric, RIM is just getting started building communication devices.
Yes, that's quite clearly the point. If Foxconn -- the makers of the iPhone -- came out with a smartphone, they would be a new smartphone company, witty caustic replies notwithstanding.
Except that Foxconn is a manufacturing company that builds to spec. HTC designs the hardware and does white labeling. That is a VERY important distinction.
Then it's a fucking stupid point. Brand doesn't equal known-how and HTC has more than a decade of smartphone design and build under its belt. 3 times as much as Apple.
> If Foxconn -- the makers of the iPhone -- came out with a smartphone
Foxconn aren't the makers of the iPhone, they're its manufacturers, they weren't involved at any point of its design. HTC never built phones according to external designs (though they do build to match external specs when not selling under their own brand).
Therefore
> they would be a new smartphone company
Yes, Foxconn would be a new smartphone company because they have 0 experience in actually making a smartphone. HTC has 10 years of experience in the field at this point. They're not a "new" smartphone company.
Wrong. HTC is a relatively new smartphone brand, they've been making smartphones since 2000. They created the first Windows Mobile smartphone, the first 3G Windows Mobile smartphone, the Palm Treo 650, the iPaq and the first Android smartphone. They were probably the major WiMo smartphone builder in WiMo's heydays (and they might very well still be).
HTC is a relatively new smartphone company? By that metric, RIM is just getting started building communication devices.