HTC Planning Wearable Showcase At MWC – Report

Troubled smartphone manufacturer HTC is reportedly planning to show off several new wearable technology devices at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week.

Bloomberg reports that a prototype smartwatch based on Qualcomm’s Toq device will be previewed to carriers at the event in the Catalan capital. Featuring Qualcomm’s Mirasol display technology, the device will also come with Bluetooth connectivity and a music player.

The prototype is the first of three wearable devices HTC is currently developing, according to the report, with the other two being another watch which uses Google’s Now service and an electronic wristband featuring a thin touch-screen display, music player and activity-tracking features.

New focus

The news follows an interview with company chairman Cher Wang, who said that wearable technology would be one of the areas that HTC will look to boost its flagging fortunes this year. She confirmed that a wearable HTC device will be available by Christmas after years of development and technical challenges.

“Many years ago we started looking at smartwatches and wearables, but we believe that we really have to solve the battery problems and the LCD light problems,” Wang said. “These are customer-centric problems.”

The news also answers the question regarding exactly what HTC will be showing off at MWC, as the company has already hinted it will not be unveiling its newest flagship device, dubbed the HTC One 2, at the show, choosing instead to reveal it at a separate event in London and New York on 25 March. It may well now focus on exhibiting its range of Windows Phone devices, following the news earlier this week that the two companies will continue to work closely together.

“2013 wasn’t a very good year for HTC,” company CFO and head of global sales Chang Chialin said in a recent interview. “We have to admit we took our eyes somewhat off the ball in making sure we have a robust portfolio in the mid- and affordable end, which we’re fixing now.”

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