Check out our full review of the HTC One smart phone.
It was just over a week ago we first heard about the HTC One’s release being slightly delayed, as an online retailer had shifted its UK arrival date from mid-March to the end of the month. HTC also provided a brief statement on the situation, saying pre-orders would be filled at that time and other markets would start seeing the new phone in April.
Since then, an HTC executive has spoken out about the reasons behind the delay, saying it’s having trouble sourcing camera components and the aluminum unibody, due in part to suppliers not treating the company as a top-end manufacturer anymore. There’s plenty riding on the HTC One’s success, particularly for CEO Peter Chou, who has been rumored to have said he’ll step down if the phone doesn’t perform as expected.
HTC has now sent out another statement concerning the HTC One’s arrival, and this time it’s relevant to all markets. Here’s what it says: “HTC has seen unprecedented demand for and interest in the new HTC One, and the care taken to design and build it is evidenced in early reviews. The HTC One will roll out in the UK, Germany and Taiwan next week and across Europe, North America and most of Asia Pacific before the end of April. We appreciate our customer’s patience, and believe that once they have the phone in their hands they will agree it has been worth the wait.”
Last we heard, the UK release date had be revised to March 29, which is at the end of next week, so at this point it looks like the delay has been contained. As an exact release date has yet to be provided by the U.S. networks stocking the HTC One, the company narrowing the launch down to before the end of April is also welcome news. Now all we can do is wait and see if HTC has enough stock to go around after the phone goes on sale.
