HTC looking for a Linux mobile partner?

It's hard to deny the success of Windows Mobile especially when almost 12 million phones were sold last fiscal year. A large part of the success is due to stylish handsets from HTC running Microsoft's mobile software. But is HTC looking to expand their mobile offerings and tap into the Linux market? According to Peter Chao, CEO of HTC, "HTC is still paying close attention to the latest developments in Linux technology." One thing HTC is missing if they want to enter the mobile Linux market is a long term partner in the platform, like Microsoft, to help defray the enormous R&D costs of an internet browser, a messaging system, and multimedia playback for the mobile platform.