HTC launch event in London in 2009: chit-chat with John Wang from HTC
June 24, 2009 [Pocket PC phone] | By Edward J. R.
We asked plenty things, including how it is possible that Apple has told Google not to use multi-touch in Android and Google complied but still HTC is now releasing multi-touch phones powered by Android! We also asked what's up with Windows Mobile. Read on!
Today, after the launch event where HTC has launched Android-version of HTC TouchFLO called "HTC Sense" and also where the first phone with this technology has been announced - Android-based HTC Hero - we had opportunity to chat with John Wang, who is probably second or third from the top in HTC - after CEO.
While we have plenty of other material from this event, that we will publish later - some of it related to Windows Mobile (like video interview with top manager of HTC Europe - Florian Seiche, and video chit-chat with 2 Windows Mobile MVPs - Leigh Gears and Arne Hess - about the situation) and some other purely Android-based stuff (like full uncut video of the presentation, video-demo of multi-touch, other photos, etc), most of this material requires processing and uploading so we cannot publish it immediately obviously.
However John Wang requested that meeting with him should not be video-taped so we can publish our impressions from this meeting with him quickly.
So, firstly, who is he? Here is the official description:
John Wang is the Chief Marketing Officer of HTC. John is responsible for the company's business strategy, marketing strategy, and product strategy, as well as for brand building aimed at expanding HTC’s global presence. John also founded HTC’s MAGIC Labs, an innovation center for creating market-ready, breakthrough products.
Here are our impressions from the chit-chat with him:
- how HTC manages to release Android-powered phone with multi-touch despite the fact that Apple told Google not to use multi-touch in Android (note: CEO of Google is on board of directors of Apple) and apparently Google has complied as by now no Android phone has supported multi-touch? Well, John Wang said that he does not know of such agreement between Apple and Google. Note: at least e-mail client and Internet browser in Android-powered HTC Hero have multi-touch [we have video demonstration of multi-touch in it - we will post it later, stay tuned!]
- but enough of this Android stuff, what about Windows Mobile? For example: is HTC Sense for Windows Mobile coming too? Is multi-touch coming to Windows Mobile too? Well, here we got no clear answer from John Wang - just general things that he can't tell obviously about unreleased stuff etc. However he pointed out that HTC sometimes is ahead with Windows Mobile phones and sometimes with Android phones - but that progress is made in both - step by step.
- John Wang has almost promised to us that future Windows Mobile phones will all (!) have 3.5 mm stereo miniplug for headset. Well, maybe not "promised" but he said many times that "we hear you", "we get the message" etc. We have underlined that it is nonsense to put proprietary headset connector in Windows Mobile phones that in many cases are being purchased by professionals, because these professionals have a lot of money, want to buy high-class headset and cannot connect it comfortably to the handset. HTC Hero has 3.5 mm connector and it looks like HTC starts to get it, that it is a must-have feature also in Windows Mobile phones.
- when we mentioned that HTC is neglecting USA because new HTC phones with American 3G bands are not coming timely and sometimes with big delays to American market, John Wang denied and said that it is not true! But how come? But we presented facts! He said that it has to do with carriers, or situation or something. We still don't get it why Diamond2 and Pro2 still are not available with American 3G bands. After asking John Wang about it we still are fuzzy about it. We reckon that situation is brutal: carriers in USA simply are not so eager for HTC phones as European ones (for example: HTC Hero comes first to T-Mobile Europe and Orange).
- all in all it looks like HTC is really moving quickly ahead and their HTC Sense not only has multi-touch but also very nice user interface that reminds a bit user interface of Palm Pre (powered by WebOS). We didn't get clear answers about progress in Windows Mobile area but what we get is: HTC is still absolutely committed to Windows Mobile and HTC starts to understand that 3.5 mm stereo miniplug is a "must have".
Stay tuned for our next video and photo reports from this event! Windows Mobile stuff we will publish here on msmobiles.com and Google Android stuff at an allied website (Mobile Tech Addicts).
Below yet another photo of John Wang from HTC - with HTC Hero phone in his hand:
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