HTC likely to push back Android 2.0 Passion launch to early 2010, say sources

HTC is likely to push back the launch of its first Android 2.0-based Passion smartphone to early 2010 instead of before year-end 2009 as originally planned, according to market sources.

HTC is working to further advance the software attached to the Passion, explained the sources, who are familiar with the Passion roadmap. The Passion will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz CPU and equipped with a 3.5-inch multi-touch OLED display.

Additionally, HTC is also expected to unveil a new Android-powered smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2010, which will take place in Barcelona in February, the sources quoted executives at HTC as indicating.

Some other sources have speculated that the new QWERTY Android phone is likely to be named the HTC Espresso, which will succeed its predecessor, the HTC Hero.

Meanwhile, HTC has posted revenues of NT$14.31 billion (US$444.41 million) for November, up 12.6% sequentially but down 19.5% on year. For the first 11 months of 2009, revenues totaled NT$130.81 billion, declining 5.9% from a year earlier.