HTC CEO says he could but won't make HD2 an Android phone, has to take care of Windows Mobile

In an interview given to Forbes, HTC CEO Peter Chou spoke pretty candidly about the widespread desire for an Android version of the HD2, and says the phone won't be finagled thusly. "Technically, we could make the HD2 an Android phone, but I have to take care of Windows Mobile," said Chou, after which we imagine popped in a stick of Juicy Fruit and didn't offer to share any with the rest of the class. Of course, this doesn't rule out a handset with similar specifications to the HD2, like the Dragon, matching DROID's push toward Android 2.0 and modern hardware, but it seems to imply that at least it won't be called "HD2," and probably won't look much like it either. Chou did admit that Windows Mobile innovation has been "a little slow" and that interest is declining, and says HTC is "working hard on these kinds of products to get excitement about Windows Mobile back." He didn't hold back on Google, however, saying that some of its actions can be "destructive" but that "we've worked with Microsoft for 13 years ... I also believe we can work with Google for a long time."

[Via SlashGear]

[Rambor Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:44PM]

Microsoft has over 90,000 employees with about 36,000 in research and development. Personally I blame the management as there is no doubt that Microsoft has the talent and brains to make great software. Microsoft needs new management who can ensure that the resources available are put to best use.

[Johnny Tremaine Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:53PM]

Bingo.

There's no doubt Microsoft has great engineering and design talent. The problem is, and has been for years, management. The guy(s) at the top.

Gates is retired, but he was, love him or hate him for his business tactics, a visionary. He was also smart enough to realize that his legacy won't be MS or Windows; it'll be the lives they save through The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Ballmer? He's purely a sales and numbers guy. Yes, he's been successful under Gates, but that doesn't mean he makes a good tech CEO or a good manager.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:49PM]

don't care what it's running, as long as we get that sexy b**** here in the US, supporting US 3G on one of our networks!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:56PM]

Very strange comments regarding this article. HTC specializes in Windows Mobile and that's all there is to it. It's pretty much a given they will release Andriod devices in parallel with WinMo....so I don't see what has people so angry. Fanboyism perhaps.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 12:57PM]

Dear HTC,

I'm breaking up with you over this!

signed,
Pissed off

[varmatheone Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:00PM]

screw you HTC (I owned 3 HTC devices in the past) for not being progressive and forward thinking.

Here I come Moto, (with 20 android phones next year). All hail Sanjay Jha.

[Quikboy Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:48PM]

"Screw you"? There's still Android phones from HTC. If you're not a fan of WinMo, whatever. Just to let you know, WinMo 6.5 is pretty good whether you like it or not.

[SLINC Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:10PM]

I have a thought and maybe this is far fetched, but since we (The Customer) are the ones that are tied into the "Contracts" shoudl it not be our choice?

What I am saying is, if I buy a phone it should be my choice of what Mobile OS I want, especially since there are so many choices now.

So in this case, if I bought this phone the sales clerk should be asking me: "Would you like Windows Mobile 6.x, Android or the Default HTC OS for your new phone?"

[Quikboy Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:50PM]

Are you serious? That's not how it works. It's all license through HTC, and phones running different hardware and drivers won't necessarily work for both OS. Why not get a phone that's better optimized, rather than something that can 'kinda' run both?

[xBeRx Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:15PM]

Last I checked, WinMo was making more money than any of you readers here!

And stop dogging WinMo! It's not that bad.

Props to Peter for showing WinMo love.

[haveyouanywool Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:25PM]

The real Link is

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Mar-13-Tue-2007/photos/zelda1.jpg

[SiD4 Posted Oct 29th 2009 1:34PM]

If what Peter Chou says is accurate, it means the HTC Dragon probably wont be using the QCOM snapdragon processor?

[jojomexi Posted Oct 29th 2009 2:08PM]

skimming through the comments i noticed everyone that disses winmo gets downranked.. just throwing my cents out there but i work for a cellular company, and most of us dislike winmo. face the facts guys, the operating system is buggy. its SLOW. it lags, freezes up, and corrupts crap more than any other mobile OS out there. you'll have your winmo fanboys, but i think the consumer speaks when most of them that come into store complain about how slow it is. Ive always been willing to give winmo a chance, but theyve not only taken for EVER to push out 6.5, whos to say when winmo 7 will actually come out. with android already working hard on 2.0, winmo is slowly losing its place.

[Quikboy Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:43PM]

Wow, are you truly a person that works in mobile phone company? Has it never occured to you that maybe past WinMo phones could have ran on ruddy hardware specs, lack drivers, or other stuff? I guess not.

[neoshi Posted Oct 29th 2009 2:29PM]

When talking about WinMo and Android, remember...

"Same sh*t, another day."

[Hydra Posted Oct 29th 2009 3:09PM]

So Htc is in bed with microsoft??

[Mystictrust Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:11PM]

Considering they've become an individual company all their own with Microsoft smartphones and made plenty of money before Android... I would have to say yes, yes they are.

They also are devoting, what, 60% of operations to Android handsets in 2010? Let WinMo users have their handsets, Android will have plenty.

[max3000 Posted Oct 29th 2009 3:18PM]

Can someone please tell me why people think android is better than winmo6.5?
And yes that is a serious question because I really wanna know.

[corneliusm Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:48PM]

I think Android 2.0 rocks. I've been playing with the devkit, and I like the interface. The API is more complete, and at a point now where it's documented better than WinAPI for WinCE/Mobile devices. I'm also excited by the new GoogleMaps for Android as well.

FWIW, my current phone is an HTC Touch Pro with WM6.5.1 (build 23081). I'm waiting until March to upgrade to something newer, and I'm open to any platform.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 5:40PM]

all the fashionable technerds read it in other comments so....it just is.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:35PM]

Proof that money can get you what you want. Well done Micro$oft.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2009 4:35PM]

Proof that money can get you what you want. Well done Micro$oft.

[Misuzu Posted Oct 29th 2009 6:05PM]

i hope he can see this, because i am doing it as hard as i can

[mgrochowalski Posted Oct 29th 2009 11:09PM]

Hey Engadget:
"%Match-TagSlug-ask%"?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 30th 2009 12:34AM]

I love my HTC Touch Pro2, but can't wait to get the HD2!! This will rock with WinMO!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 30th 2009 5:26AM]

Well, you go a head and take care of Windows Mobile, let me know how THAT works out for you. While I look for a phone with Android on it. I'll be damned if I ever buy another Windows Mobile phone again. No thank you.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 30th 2009 9:10PM]

Who wants phone with mobile version of Windows Millennium!? It's high time to retire that crappy OS.