Google's Android mobile phone system may reach RP in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Cellular phones carrying Google's operating system will soon be available in the Philippines through handsets manufactured by Taiwanese firm HTC. HTC Philippines country manager Mark Sergio said the company is currently preparing to ship the Android-based phones after receiving a lot of inquiries about the G1 phone from curious customers. The G1 is the only HTC phone model running on Android. The HTC's handsets, including those recently launched in the Philippines, are all based on Windows Mobile. Sergio said the company is still considering various ways to market the Android phones once they are formally unveiled locally, including the possibility of copying the single-operator model of Deutsche Telekom. He added that while the current market of HTC phones are concentrated on high-end segment, the company is "trying to commoditize" its products by introducing various models with different price points. "Even if the Philippines is a pre-dominantly pre-paid market, there are subscribers who don't use entry-level phones and who prefer smartphones like the ones that we offer. We are targeting that market," said Sergio, adding that the company is eyeing to grow locally by "three digits" this year. He said the HTC has an active relationship with local ISVs (independent software vendors), which has allowed the company to port locally developed applications on its handsets. Among the models launched by the company during the Makati event included the HTC Touch HD, an entertainment-focused mobile handset that uses the TouchFLO 3D user interface, as well as the HTC Touch 3G and HTC Touch Viva. The HTC Touch 3G and Touch Viva will be available from end-November 2008 at a suggested retail price of P32,900 and P21,900, respectively. The HTC HD, meanwhile, has a suggested retail price of P55,900. - GMANews.TV