HTC to ship Android G1 phones to Asia-Pacific markets in 1H09, says paper

High Tech Computer (HTC) will begin to ship Android-based G1 phones to clients in the Asia-pacific region in the first half of 2009, the Chinese-language Commercial Times quoted company sources as indicating.

While starting to sell its Touch 3G smartphones in the Taiwan market in cooperation with Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) on November 3, HTC also plans to launch its first 5-megapixel PDA phone, the Tough HD, in Taiwan before the end of this year, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report.

The Touch 3G carries a suggest retail price of NT$16,900 (US$514), the first HTC 3G handset priced below the NT$20,000-mark, EDN noted.