The Apple versus HTC lawsuit took a small
step forward on March 17, with HTC
releasing a public response to Apple's allegations that HTC
smartphones infringe on patents related to the iPhone's interface, architecture
and hardware.
"HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself," HTC
CEO Peter Chou said in a statement. "HTC strongly advocates intellectual
property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their
technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace
competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get
the best mobile experience possible."
Chou then went on to list HTC milestones over the years, stating:
"From day one, HTC
has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for
people looking for a smartphone.
In 1999 we started designing the XDA. The O2 XDA
by HTC was the first 3.5-inch color touch
screen smartphone in the world in 2002, and the T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone
Edition by HTC was the first 3.5-inch color
touch screen smartphone in the United States
in 2002. Our first touch-screen smartphones [shipped] in 2002, with more than
50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping
since then."
Apple shipped its first iPhone on June 29, 2007—and sold
a million units in the first 74 days.
In the Apple lawsuit, which was filed March 2 with the U.S. International Trade
Commission and the U.S. District Court in Delaware, CEO Steve Jobs said Apple can't "sit by and watch
competitors steal our patented inventions." He continued, "We think
competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original
technology, not steal ours."
The suit coincides with HTC's
growing adoption of smartphones running Android, the Google mobile
operating system, which is quickly gaining market share. In order to continue
the sales momentum that HTC has successfully built, analysts have suggested
that HTC
move to speedily handle the Apple suit, saying it could slow HTC's ability to do business with partners in the United
States.
The HTC statement additionally listed the manufacturer's contributions to the
market and "technology firsts," which it said included the first
Windows PDA, in 1998, the first Windows phone, in June 2002, the first
gesture-based smartphone, in June 2007, the first Google Android smartphone, in
October 2008, and the first 4G WiMax smartphone, in November 2008.
"HTC has always taken a partnership-oriented, collaborative approach to
business. This has led to long-standing strategic partnerships with the top
software, Internet and wireless technology companies in the industry as well as
the top U.S., European and Asian mobile operators," Jason
Mackenzie, vice president of HTC America, added to the statement.
"It is through these relationships that we have been able to deliver the
world's most diverse series of smartphones to an even more diverse group of
people around the world, recognizing that customers have very different
needs," Mackenzie said.
Current HTC products in the United States include the Google-branded
Nexus One, the T-Mobile-branded
MyTouch 3G and the HTC
Desire and Legend.
 |
Enterprise Mobility News & Reviews 
