HTC confirms tablet plans, predicts blockbuster Q1 2011

By Chris Davies/Jan. 21, 2011 9:59 am EST

HTC CEO Peter Chou has confirmed that the company has at least one tablet in the pipeline, telling investors that "we hope the product we eventually unveil will be one that meets consumers' needs." Speaking as part of a financial presentation today, Chou denied that HTC had been left wrong-footed by the iPad and Android-based slates like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, suggesting instead that "it's a new market with many competitors, and we don't want to rush into it."

Although Chou did not reveal any specific details about the tablet or tablets HTC intends to launch, rumors earlier this week suggest that three models are in the pipeline for the first half of 2011. One, the HTC Flyer, is believed to be a 7-inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread slate that will launch in the US in March; two further models, running Android 3.0 Honeycomb, are predicted to arrive before the end of June.

The tablet news comes as HTC predicts revenue and device shipments to more than double in the first quarter of 2011, with revenue expected to reach $3.2bn with a 29.5-percent profit margin.

[via FierceWireless]