HTC goes Asia-Pacific; G1 in China by July?

While the iPhone has an on-again off-again relationship with the Chinese market, seemingly unable to commit to that most populous of nations, unlocked HTC G1s are said to be selling like gangbusters there, a tidbit that surely didn't escape HTC's notice. By the sound of it the company is ready to make its feelings official, pledging its undying love (and Android handsets) to arrive in Asia-Pac markets in the first half of 2009. Additionally, the Touch 3G should be on sale in Taiwan as of now, with the Touch HD hitting there before the end of the year. While China isn't specifically mentioned in the report, it's certainly the major market in that region. If HTC could beat Apple to the streets of Shanghai that would be a coup of epic proportions, setting the stage for a global battle of smartphone dominance. Place your bets, folks.

[TareX @ Nov 4th 2008 9:27AM]

July 2009? I hope this is not true.

By July 2009 Android will be in a lot of trouble is the G2 isn't out and running already. The G1 is too weak to last that long without a successor.

[broli @ Nov 4th 2008 9:41AM]

Don't worry, by then android will be even running on your toaster.

Android will also have the Input method framework (IMF) implemented by Q1 2009 to support soft keyboards. The ironic thing is that we'll probably see the Touch HD (and any other touch variation) running android before the G1 will release in certain countries as "the first phone to run andoird".

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 4th 2008 10:22AM]

I own one and it is far and away the best phone I've ever used. Its quirks get a lot of press, but the entire package as a whole completely blows anything from WinMo or Blackberry out of the water as an easy-to-use, powerful consumer device. Calling it "weak" is just short-sighted. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't mean that it isn't one of the most compelling devices on the market.

[Patriks7 @ Nov 4th 2008 11:28AM]

Dude.. do you know that the G1 isn't the only Android device?

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Nov 4th 2008 2:11PM]

hitting China, so like, it's made, then shipped to another country, then shipped back to China?

[Teh Lup @ Nov 4th 2008 9:49AM]

How would a gangbuster 'sell' exactly?

[YpoCaramel @ Nov 4th 2008 10:06AM]

Are you sure? Usually Asia Pacific refers to South-East Asia outside of China - Singapore, Hong Kong (technically part of China, but the distribution network is different) Malaysia etc. People usually look at China independently since it is so large, has different living standards and uses a variety of different standards - Asia Pacific tends to use European 3G standards whereas China has it own. I'd be way more cautious assuming China is part of Asia Pacific.

[E. Leigh @ Nov 4th 2008 10:12AM]

I never get tired of the Android Bot - I want to skin one myself, maybe photoshop some clothes onto it...

BTW, there needn't be a global war between the two - the iPhone is not a true smartphone, it's very bright, but not a smartphone.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 4th 2008 10:49AM]

The motorolla one was the best so far. He really is an amusing little mascot. I'm kind of bummed that he doesn't actually appear anywhere on the G1 outside of the OS splash screen. I'd rather have an Android logo than a "with Google" logo.

[simon @ Nov 4th 2008 10:19AM]

"...setting the stage for a global battle of smartphone dominance" because after all the rest of the world wants to have the same selection of smartphones as the US... NOT

[silverblackvoid @ Nov 4th 2008 11:01AM]

love the modified android logo.just awesome:)

[Valicore @ Nov 4th 2008 11:29AM]

Dang, that Android logo looks like it was made for the Chinese flag! Looks good to me, regardless of politics! And the author is damn right it would be a huge deal to win the Shanghai market. With all the expat execs and upwardly mobile young professionals, that place is awesome if you wanna make money.

[eiki @ Nov 4th 2008 11:39AM]

the article doesnt mention PRC, so why yours?

[phanbouy @ Nov 4th 2008 12:03PM]

in communist china smartphone dominate YOU

[Testies, Testies, 1, 2... 3? @ Nov 4th 2008 3:06PM]

no... just, no....

[nephersir7 @ Nov 4th 2008 12:34PM]

When will we see an Android phone in Canada?

I hope HTC and other companies, but also other carriers start releasing new Android-enabled phones by next summer.

Also, it`s always funny seeing people (TareX in this case) think that Android is designed to be exclusive to only one phone, and one carrier)

[micklol @ Nov 4th 2008 1:25PM]

Suddenly that adorable robot icon just became scary...........

[neodorian @ Nov 4th 2008 5:24PM]

I would like to see all of the Chinese knockoff makers shift gears to making sweet legit Android phones rather than iPhone knockoffs running Android. I would love to see a flood of cheap, modern hardware running Android.

[Mike @ Nov 4th 2008 9:01PM]

How about the Philippines?

[maplebear @ Nov 6th 2008 3:44AM]

RMB3999 in China.....

[tom @ Nov 6th 2008 8:29AM]

"iPhone seemingly unable to commit to that most populous of nations"

If by "commit" you mean "grow a new chip" the iPhone indeed is a lousy lover. The iPhone 3G does not have the right hardware to run on China's big 3G networks. The same applies for the HTC G1.

"HTC G1s are said to be selling like gangbusters"

Who said that? You? And who else? Nobody. They are now available on the grey market, that's all. So is the iPhone and 10,000 other phone models.