HTC Sales Cut In Half Through March 2013

HTC posted its March 2013 revenue figures on Monday morning, and it’s not good news for shareholders. The Taiwanese based company reported sales of NT$15.88 billion or approximately $530 million. While those numbers are still better than February’s NT$11.37 billion ($384 million USD), they are still lower than expected.

Based on Monday’s numbers, HTC is still suffering through a revenue decline of 48 percent year-over-year.

HTC also posted its lowest quarterly profit to date in Q1 2013. The company’s first-quarter net income fell 98 percent to NT$85 million ($2.8 million USD). Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected the company to post NT$600 million.

HTC has now suffered through six quarters of declines. The company is pegging the hopes for its future on the HTC One, a smartphone that was due by the end of the month but was delayed because of a shortage in crucial camera components.

According to February numbers, HTC was holding onto a 9.3 percent share of US smartphone subscribers, a 1.7 percent decrease from the previous quarter.

Along with the HTC One, the smartphone manufacturer is also rolling out the Facebook Home platform via the mid-ranged HTC First smartphone.

The HTC One is already available for pre-order from AT&T; the smartphone will arrive on April 19. HTC will receive some steep competition on April 26 when the Samsung Galaxy S4 debuts.

The smartphone manufacturer has already won praise for its aluminum case build, crisp camera, and high-end hardware and software features.

Conditions at HTC have become so dire that CEO Peter Chou has promised to resign if conditions worsen.

While HTC will be the first smartphone manufacturer to receive Facebook Home pre-installed on a device, the platform will also be available to download for existing Android devices.

The key now will be for HTC to convince Samsung and iPhone users to try a new device.

Will you be heading out to pick up the HTC One?