HTC has delayed the launch of its much anticipated HTC One smartphone due to component shortages.
The Wall Street Journal quotes an unnamed HTC executive as saying the new flagship phone has been delayed because HTC has a problem with its component suppliers.
“The company has a problem managing its component suppliers as it has changed its order forecasts drastically and frequently following last year’s unexpected slump in shipments,” the source said. “HTC has had difficulty in securing adequate camera components as it is no longer a tier-one customer.”
The WSJ reports HTC chief executive Peter Chou may now come under pressure to resign, with the release of the phone now delayed to the end of March, and April in many markets.
In a statement, the company said: “The HTC One will start rolling out to customers from mid-March 2013 with our biggest priority being to get the device to people both quickly and efficiently.”
The delay puts more pressure on the Taiwanese firm and risks the HTC One starting shipping at the same time as its rival, the Samsung Galaxy S4. Revenues peaked in August 2011, with the company reporting a year on year fall in revenues of 62 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenues fell 27 per cent in the first two months of 2013.
