Taipei, Dec. 25, 2008 (CENS)--With its sales arm for the Asia-Pacific market, Dopod International Corp., recording a 4.7% share as No. 3 brand in the Chinese market for smartphones in the third quarter of 2008, Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), a world-caliber vendor of the products, is gearing up o further tap the mainland market during the Lunar New Year shopping season, according to company sources.

Dopod`s CEO Chun-Liang Tung noted that consumer demand for smartphones in China, although also affected by the recent global economic downturn since the close of Beijing Olympic Games, has remained stronger than other markets of the world. However, Tung is also optimistic about the sales prospects for the entire Asia-Pacific market in 2009 as long as market negatives, like deflation and major fluctuations of foreign exchange rates, disappear.

HTC has worked closely with Dopod on sales in the Asia-Pacific market, with the former developing and supplying smartphones and the latter specialized in retailing. In China, HTC`s smartphones are exclusively sold under the brand name of "Dopod" presently; but, HTC is very likely to launch own-brand models in the market to seize the huge business opportunity in the future.

Industry insiders noted that Dopod, despite ranking as No. 3 in China, has to further boost its market share to counter Apple`s upcoming invasion into the market. In the quarter, Nokia and Motorola together commanded a nearly 90% share of China`s smartphone and PDA phone market.

At the moment, Dopod is among the minority in China`s smartphone market, as the brand mainly adopts Microsoft`s Windows Mobile operating system as the platform for its own-brand smartphones. In comparison, Nokia`s Symbian-based and Motorola`s Linux-based smartphones have proven popular with consumers in the market. Noteworthy is that Google`s Android platform may probably encroach popularity of Windows Mobile in the future, getting in Dopod`s way to boost its smartphone sales in the market.
(by Steve Chuang)