According research firm Gartner Inc, Finnish Nokia is more likely to outperform Taiwan-based HTC Corp. in China’s Windows Phone 8 (WP8) market because of its better product portfolio.
Although HTC is expanding its retail presence and is improving its relationships with Chinese carriers, Nokia’s partnership with Microsoft will give it an edge in selling WP8 phones, said Roger Sheng, a Shanghai-based research analyst at Gartner.
“It’s not just about the number of distribution channels but also the product portfolio,” Sheng told CNA in an interview.
Since Nokia has bet on the Windows software to revive its sales, the company will definitely launch new models covering the full pricing spectrum, from entry-level models costing USD 150 to high-end phones priced at USD 600, Sheng said. “HTC still focuses on the Android system rather than Windows, indicating that it has devoted less manpower to the Windows platform and will have a weaker product portfolio than Nokia,” he added.
Moreover, Nokia is expected to receive subsidies from Microsoft for its WP8 marketing expenses and royalty payment obligations, while HTC still needs to pay Microsoft royalties, Sheng said.
Nokia, which announced in February last year a broad strategic partnership with Microsoft, launched its WP8-based Lumia 920 on 7 September, with emphasis on its powerful “PureView” camera and built-in wireless charging. HTC also unveiled its first WP8 smartphones — the 4.3-inch HTC 8X and the 4-inch HTC 8S — in New York on 19 September.
