based manufacturer of smartphones, launched in Saudi Arabia HTC Desire HDTM and the first Microsoft Windows Phone 7 device, the HTC HD7. At a press conference Sunday, company officials said that although HTC is a relatively new brand in the industry, it already shows a highly promising future. Banking on its “specialized” smartphone portfolio, HTC is looking forward to have a 10 percent share of the market in 2011 from only 2.5 percent this year, Mohamed El-Rahawan, marketing manager, HTC Saudi Arabia. The Android-based HTC Desire HDTM embodies the HTC Sense 2.0 experience and introduces a number of key innovations including a series of free connected services called htcsense.com that enhances people's mobile experience on HTC phones. The HTC Desire HDTM brings in new features and high-tech improvements to one of HTC's most successful ranges of smartphone models. The feature-packed HTC HD7 on the other hand comes with a 4.3 inch WVGA TFT capacitive touch screen, and is also equipped with a 5 mega pixel camera with dual LED flash with auto focus and HD video features. The device is supported with 802.11 wifi, Bluetooth and an AGPS/GPS system. The company plans to hold roadshows in key and strategic locations in the Kingdom to familiarize customers on the advanced features of the latest HTC smartphones, some of them exclusive only to HTC. Kiosks would also be installed in major malls and supermarkets so that customers would have a hands-on experience. Mohamed Kais Zribi, regional manager of HTC Middle East and North Africa, said: “Customers in Saudi Arabia have been eagerly awaiting the launch of these new models. As far as the HTC Desire HD is concerned, I am confident that they will fully appreciate the new features and applications that we have introduced, especially its more engaging, intuitive, user-friendly design. We have likewise retained the attention-grabbing features of the phone, taking advantage of the powerful Android platform and the latest version of HTC Sense2.0, which has become a major hit among smartphone users.” “As for the HTC HD7, this will be a whole new mobile experience for users thanks to Windows Phone 7. The HD7 is packed with features that will excite and engage users, who will also hugely benefit from the level of customization that the phone offers, which is designed to help users find and use the features optimally and easily,” he added. Neeraj Seth, MENA marketing manager, HTC Middle East & North Africa, said “the Saudi market has always been extremely receptive to HTC products which makes the Kingdom vital to our market consolidation plans in the region. We believe that the feature-rich HTC Desire and HD7 will particularly appeal to the country's young, tech savvy population, and accordingly HTC plans to market these phones very innovatively to this segment.” “HTC has major plans for the KSA market, given its strategic importance to our overall scheme of things in the region. Over the coming period, we will be making significant investments on branding and promotion-related initiatives to create greater visibility for our brand and further build on our ‘connect' with our growing customer base in the Kingdom,” Kais noted.
