HTC won't be releasing a successor to the 7-inch Flyer or 10.1-inch Jetstream, and won't be unveiling a new Android or Windows 8 tablet, at least in the next few months. HTC’s online communications manager Jeff Gordon told FierceWireless the Taiwanese device-maker would no longer be selling tablets in the United States. While HTC has been able to find its niche in the smartphone market, its tablet offerings like the EVO View 4G on Sprint and the 4G LTE-ready Jetstream on AT&T have bombed. Gordon did say that HTC is closely monitoring the tablet market and may re-enter the arena at some point.
What Else You Need To Know
- HTC was among the early players in the tablet industry, launching a 7-inch Flyer in May 2011 for $499, same price as the 9.7-inch iPad.
- The high-end tablet market is dominated by the iPad 3 and the $199 budget-tablet market is dominated by the Google/Asus Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire.
- HTC reportedly rejected an offer from Google to co-develop the Nexus 7 tablet. The Android Jelly Bean-running Nexus 7, which ended up being co-developed by Asus, is the second best-selling tablet in the last three months.
- While it is releasing Windows Phone 8 handsets, HTC is not listed as a hardware partner for Windows 8 tablets or convertibles. PC-makers like HP and Lenovo, as well as Android device-makers like Samsung, are releasing Windows 8 tablets or hybrids at the end of October.
Other sources
We can’t say we’re shocked, especially when they only offered tablets like the Jetstream and the Flyer, which might have looked cool on paper, but just never seemed to pile up the sales numbers like offerings from their competitors.- Tim-o-tato, Droid Life
HTC mentioned that it could possibly end up re-entering the market if it comes up with a tablet idea that it believes could shake up the tablet market.- Craig Lloyd, SlashGear
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HTC waves the white flag in U.S. tablet market
Jeff Gordon, HTC’s global online communications manager, tells FierceWireless that selling tablets “was a great learning experience for us, and they definitely met expectations” and that “we’re watching that market very, very closely.”
- Into Mobile
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HTC Backs Out of U.S. Tablet Market, Says It Was a “Learning Experience”
We can’t say we’re shocked, especially when they only offered tablets like the Jetstream and the Flyer, which might have looked cool on paper, but just never seemed to pile up the sales numbers like offerings from their competitors.
- SlashGear
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HTC backing out of US tablet market
HTC mentioned that it could possibly end up re-entering the market if it comes up with a tablet idea that it believes could shake up the tablet market.
- TechnoBuffalo
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HTC Leaves U.S. Tablet Market… For Now
As we already know, it is set to launch its new flagship HTC One X+ here, as well as its Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S handsets.
- All About Symbian
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HTC drops out of US tablet market – for now
So for now it appears that HTC will no longer be releasing any tablets, but in the future we could see another appear. This also makes us wonder if they’ll be focusing all their previous tablet efforts on the phablet market instead.
- Chip Chick
- HTC Exec Discusses Company’s Lack Of Tablets
- GottaBeMobile
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HTC Pulls Out Of U.S. Tablet Market
The Jetstream tablet was HTC’s latest attempt at breaking into the U.S. tablet market. The HTC Jetstream was one of the first tablets on AT&T to support 4G LTE.
- IntoMobile
- HTC decides to drop out of the tablet race
- Tech Radar
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HTC discontinuing tablets in US
While HTC has not had much success in the tablet market, the firm's smartphone efforts are a different story.
- TabletPC Review
- HTC Won't Be Making Windows Tablets Any Time Soon
- More...