Inexperience may keep HTC out of Windows RT tablets market

At Computex 2012, a range of tablets featuring the Windows 8 operating system were spotted. These tablets are expected to ship by the second half of the year and an analyst has gone as far as predicting that it will replace Google’s Android as the second biggest tablet OS. While many manufacturers have been launching Windows 8 tablets, a noticeable absentee from this space has been popular maker, HTC. Now if a report by Bloomberg is to be believed, then sources have informed them that HTC will not develop Windows RT aka Windows 8 tablets, as they have insufficient experience in making tablets.

Microsoft shuts off HTC from building Windows 8 tablets

As per the report, anonymous sources have informed them that HTC is shut out of the introduction of Microsoft’s next Windows software. The report states, “Microsoft locked out HTC from the development of products using the newest version of its operating system on concern that HTC doesn’t sell enough devices or have ample experience making tablets, said the people, who asked not to be named because negotiations between HTC and other companies are private.”

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The report by Bloomberg goes on to state, “Microsoft’s decision will keep HTC, maker of the first Google Inc.-branded smartphone, from participating in the electronics industry’s latest attempt to erode Apple’s lead in tablets. The Taiwanese company, whose stock has dropped 68 percent in the past year, is also facing shortages from chipmaker Qualcomm, highlighting the challenge of competing with Apple and Samsung, two companies whose dominance in manufacturing and software are increasingly marginalizing smaller rivals like HTC.”

With Apple and Samsung dominating the smartphone shipments, HTC’s percent has dropped 23 percent in the first quarter of this year, while Samsung has more than tripled and Apple has increased to 89 percent. The report states, “HTC may release a Windows device later, in a second round of products to come next year, one of the people said. Participating in the introduction of Windows RT tablets would be unlikely to solve all that ails HTC. The machines will be starting from a zero-market-share position, without the advantage of popular, older Windows applications that won’t run on ARM hardware.”

Let us know your reactions for HTC missing out on launching a Windows RT/ Windows 8 tablet due to insufficient experience in the tablet market and do you think it is justified for Microsoft to leave them out, if this report turns out to be true?