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RIP HTC – Google In “FINAL STAGES” of HTC Acquisition

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RIP HTC – Google In “FINAL STAGES” of HTC Acquisition


Richard Goodwin

11/09/2017 – 11:03am

After years of disappointment, it looks as if HTC is finally throwing in the towel with Google linked as a potential buyer

HTC is done. Word on the street suggests the company, after years of disappointment and failure, is now in the final process of selling its phone business to Google.

That’s right – Google is buying HTC. Just like it did many moons ago with Motorola, before fobbing it off to Lenovo.

HTC hasn’t had a very good time of late. The company, once a dominant force in the Android space, is now just a bit-part player, struggling to keep its head above water.

The company’s financials, for as long as I can remember, read like a Cormac McCarthy novel, and now it appears as if the firm’s owners/investors have had enough – they’re selling to Google.

The news is all over the web, but sources claim Google is only after HTC’s phone business, so HTC, as a corporate entity, will still exist after the buyout – it just won’t make phones anymore.

HTC has a pretty extensive OEM business and decent facilities, though it isn’t clear whether these will be snapped up as part of the deal. As is always the case with these things, nothing is 100% clear – and likely won’t be until we see an official release from one of the parties.

How Much Trouble is HTC Actually In?

Put curtly: A lot. The company has had a terrible few years with sales falling more than 54% inside the last 12 months alone. Things aren’t showing any signs of getting better, either.

Back in 2015, HTC’s share price fell below its market valuation, essentially confirming the company – from an investor point of view – was worthless.

“The company is weak on several fronts and has been undercut on the lower-end by low-margin Chinese businesses that can compete on quality,” notes Engadget.

“At the higher end, HTC doesn’t have the advertising clout to go toe-to-toe with Samsung or LG. Here’s an easy way of understanding things: Would you rather buy HTC’s U11 or a Galaxy S8, V30 or OnePlus 5?”

Why Would Google Buy HTC?

There are a few reasons why Google would want to acquire a failing phone brand, but the most obvious ones in my mind are as follows:

  • Expertise – Google, rather than spending millions on R&D developing its Pixel phones, can simply buy-in the skills and people required to do this. Expensive, yes. But Google isn’t short of money and this is a short term cost for a long term problem.
  • Samsung – Google and Samsung aren’t exactly pals. Samsung is very big and has made multiple threats about its desire to break away from Android. Owning HTC would allow Google to compete with Samsung in a more direct fashion, as it can speed losses around its larger, very profitable business; HTC and many other Android OEMs do not have this luxury.
  • Manufacturing – Acquiring HTC would give Google access to its own manufacturing facilities, on top of all of the company’s designers and engineers. This, along with its Moto patents, puts Google’s phone business in a pretty good place. Especially when you consider the trouble it had meeting demand for its Pixel phone.
  • Apple – having its own phone business, with patents and production facilities, will give Google more control over its phone business. Lots more control. And this will allow it to better compete with Apple in the long run.

The nature of Apple’s business model is the envy of almost all enterprises in the tech arena. The company doesn’t sell as many phones as Samsung or Huawei, but because of its model, it makes more profit from its phone business than the two biggest sellers combined.

This model is about control – every aspect of the iPhone and iOS is controlled by Apple. When you spend money in the iOS ecosystem, Apple always gets a taste. Strap on top of that hardware profits, with an average profit margin of 40% per unit, and you have yourself a license to print money.

This is clearly what Google has in mind for its Pixel line of phones. It wants to make them the iPhone of the Android space; it wants control of the hardware, the margins associated with it, and the revenues generated from Android itself.

And Google, like Apple, is in a unique position because it already controls the most popular operating system on the planet.

Samsung, while a bigger phone brand, has to use Android for now, and this puts it at a massive disadvantage to Google, as it would take years and years to build a platform like Android. And even if it could, just look at all the time and money Microsoft wasted trying to break into the space.

That’s my 2p on the subject, what do you reckon? Hit me up in the comments below.

Richard Goodwin 11/09/2017 - 11:03am

After years of unhappiness, it looks like HTC is in the end falling by the wayside with Google connected as a possible purchaser

HTC is finished. Phrase in the street suggests the corporate, after years of unhappiness and failure, is now within the ultimate procedure of promoting its phone trade to Google.

That’s proper – Google is purchasing HTC. Simply love it did many moons in the past with Motorola, prior to fobbing it off to Lenovo.

HTC hasn't had an excellent time of past due. The corporate, as soon as a dominant power within the Android house, is now only a bit-part participant, suffering to stay its head above water.

The corporate’s financials, for so long as I will be able to keep in mind, learn like a Cormac McCarthy novel, and now it sounds as if as though the company’s homeowners/buyers have had sufficient – they’re promoting to Google.

The inside track is everywhere the internet, however assets declare Google is simplest after HTC’s phone trade, so HTC, as a company entity, will nonetheless exist after the buyout – it simply gained’t make telephones anymore.

HTC has an attractive in depth OEM trade and first rate amenities, even though it isn’t transparent whether or not those will likely be snapped up as section of the deal. As is at all times the case with these items, not anything is 100% transparent – and most likely gained’t be till we see an legitimate unlock from one of the events.

How A lot Bother is HTC If truth be told In?

Put curtly: So much. The corporate has had a horrible few years with gross sales falling greater than 54% throughout the remaining 12 months on my own. Issues aren’t appearing any indicators of getting higher, both.

Again in 2015, HTC’s proportion value fell under its marketplace valuation, necessarily confirming the corporate – from an investor level of view – was once nugatory.

“The corporate is vulnerable on a number of fronts and has been undercut at the lower-end by means of low-margin Chinese language companies that may compete on high quality,” notes Engadget.

“On the upper finish, HTC does not have the promoting clout to move toe-to-toe with Samsung or LG. Here is a very simple means of figuring out issues: Would you somewhat purchase HTC's U11 or a Galaxy S8, V30 or OnePlus 5?”

Why Would Google Purchase HTC?

There are a couple of the explanation why Google would wish to achieve a failing phone emblem, however the obvious ones in my thoughts are as follows:

  • Experience – Google, somewhat than spending hundreds of thousands on R&D creating its Pixel telephones, can merely buy-in the abilities and other folks required to do that. Dear, sure. However Google isn’t quick of cash and it is a quick time period price for a longer term drawback.
  • Samsung – Google and Samsung aren’t precisely friends. Samsung could be very large and has made a couple of threats about its need to break free from Android. Proudly owning HTC would permit Google to compete with Samsung in a extra direct type, as it may pace losses round its higher, very successful trade; HTC and lots of different Android OEMs shouldn't have this luxurious.
  • Production – Obtaining HTC would give Google get right of entry to to its personal production amenities, on most sensible of all of the corporate’s designers and engineers. This, in conjunction with its Moto patents, places Google’s phone trade in an attractive just right position. Particularly whilst you imagine the difficulty it had assembly call for for its Pixel phone.
  • Apple – having its personal phone trade, with patents and manufacturing amenities, will give Google extra keep an eye on over its phone trade. A lot extra keep an eye on. And this will likely permit it to higher compete with Apple ultimately.

The character of Apple’s trade type is the envy of virtually all enterprises within the tech area. The corporate doesn’t promote as many telephones as Samsung or Huawei, however as a result of of its type, it makes extra take advantage of its phone trade than the 2 largest dealers mixed.

This type is set keep an eye on – each facet of the iPhone and iOS is managed by means of Apple. While you spend cash within the iOS ecosystem, Apple at all times will get a style. Strap on most sensible of that earnings, with a median benefit margin of 40% in keeping with unit, and you've got your self a license to print cash.

That is obviously what Google has in thoughts for its Pixel line of telephones. It needs to cause them to the iPhone of the Android house; it needs keep an eye on of the , the margins related to it, and the revenues generated from Android itself.

And Google, like Apple, is in a novel place as it already controls the preferred running machine on the earth.

Samsung, whilst a larger phone emblem, has to make use of Android for now, and this places it at a large downside to Google, as it might take years and years to construct a platform like Android. And although it might, simply take a look at at all times and cash Microsoft wasted seeking to destroy into the distance.

That’s my 2p at the matter, what do you reckon? Hit me up within the feedback under.

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