HTC’s Own OS: Aiming to Be Apple, RIM, Nokia?

Speaking with Bloomberg, HTC chief financial officer Cheng Hui-ming states that under the right conditions, his company could run its own operating system for its smartphones. Throughout HTC’s history, it has relied on Windows Mobile and Google Android. Were HTC to use a proprietary OS, there are many significant factors to consider.

For starters, would HTC create extra competition for its own line of Android and Windows Phone 7 phones? The smartphone market is burgeoning, but there is only so much money available. If HTC acquires Palm and WebOS, it could offer fairly unique handhelds that rivals Motorola, Samsung, LG, and Sony cannot. I contend that investing in WebOS is a bad move simply because the market is too saturated with choices, and one OS, Symbian, is already losing users. RIM could also be in jeopardy unless its Wireless Enterprise Symposium brings something killer to the table.

I do not see enough room in the galaxy for WebOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, iPhone OS 4, Symbian, Maemo, Bada, and RIM to be all profitable platforms. Several of these will have to be eliminated. I think that HTC is just keeping options open and may not try to become Apple, RIM, and Nokia because such an endeavor is far too risky. HTC is doing just fine with Android, and its Windows Phone 7 units should be good too. Why not stay with what you know best?