HTC One launch delay confirmed, camera and unibody to blame

HTC was on the rise until 2012 when the company’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. The company is trying to recapture lost ground with products like the HTC One – a risky, but unique Android phone – but it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

The One was supposed to launch in March (that was what retailers like Best Buy were told) but it was pushed back due to component shortages. Now, HTC execs are confirming earlier rumors saying that the company will fulfill pre-orders by the end of this month and expand to new markets in April. The delay means the HTC One will have less time on the market before the Samsung Galaxy S4 hits.

It turns out that two of the signature features of the HTC One are the ones suffering shortages – the aluminum unibody and the UltraPixel camera. These supply issues were apparently caused by the sales slump, which caused the company to change its supply order forecasts.

“The company has a problem managing its component suppliers as it has changed its order forecasts drastically and frequently following last year's unexpected slump in shipments. HTC has had difficulty in securing adequate camera components as it is no longer a tier-one customer,” an unnamed HTC executive told The Wall street Journal.

This might be the end of the line for current CEO Peter Chou who reportedly told company executives he will step down if the HTC One doesn’t succeed.

Source | Via