HTC Posts Loss As Smartphone Sales SagHTC Posts Loss As Smartphone Sales Sag

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HTC today reported another quarterly loss as sales of last year's flagship device sank ahead of the new One's debut. The company lost $62 million on sales of $1.1 billion, well below its revenue forecast. HTC has been struggling for a long time, and its latest earnings report shows just how serious a situation the company finds itself in.

HTC's market woes began several years ago. After holding an early lead in the smartphone market thanks to its quick adoption of Android, HTC's lead slipped away as competitors -- notably Samsung -- flooded the market with cheap and appealing hardware. That led HTC to go all out with the One smartphone, which it introduced about a year ago. The company fully expected the One to reverse its sales slide, but production problems delayed the One's release, and HTC wasn't able to get the phone to Verizon customers until six months after its initial debut. HTC claims the One (2013) is its best-selling device ever, but consumers have been savvy enough to avoid it during the last few months ahead of the 2014 One.

HTC released the new One on March 25. The device, which bears the same name as its 2013 predecessor, boasts many improvements, including a more refined design. Some might say the phone is an evolutionary update, but it is still a finely crafted piece of hardware. Though the One has so far been available only in Verizon Wireless stores, it can be ordered online from AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Most carriers are selling it for $199 with a contract or about $26 per month through installment plans. The new One will reach all stores by April 11.

[The redesigned HTC One is impressive, but there's room for improvement. Read HTC One: Pros & Cons.]

HTC pulled off a coup by selling the device the same day it was announced -- beating Samsung's Galaxy S5 to retail stores by two weeks or more. HTC solved last year's production problems and had plenty of inventory on hand for launch.

HTC has been mum on initial sales of the new One, however, and that's not an encouraging sign. Apple and Samsung often trumpet their first weekend or first week sales, especially if they move more than a million units. HTC has made no such announcement, leading some to question if the launch has met HTC's expectations. In a statement, HTC said, "The company expects to see positive trajectory of its revenue in April from March and forecasts quarter-on-quarter revenue growth in the second quarter."

One of HTC's problems is marketing; the company's pockets are not as deep as those of its competitors. Samsung has ramped up its marketing budget over the course of the last 15 to 18 months, and it is evident in the strong sales enjoyed by devices such as the Galaxy S III and GS4. Samsung's 2014 flagship hits retail shelves later this week, which will put it head-to-head with the One.

Fighting Samsung head-on is going to be tough for HTC, no matter how good the One is. The new One may be HTC's strongest device yet, but it must put a dent in demand for the GS5 if HTC is to stay in the race.

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