Google is Close to Buying HTC’s Smartphone Business, But Why?

Google buying HTC could finally offer them control over software and hardware of the products like Apple.

Google has aspirations to match Apple’s consistent hegemony, which has been seen with its role to make the hardware as well the software for its products. If there’s one thing that Google misses out on Android’s mobile OS dominance, then it would probably be control.

Which is why, we weren’t surprised to hear that Google is finalising a deal to buy HTC’s smartphone division. Few years ago, Google had bought Motorola, and it managed to grab a slew of patents from them, and later sold them off to Lenovo, for a significantly lesser value.

So, now the question is – if Google is indeed buying HTC, then why?

Making Smartphones of Their Choice

We all know that HTC made the first Pixel phone in 2016, and while it didn’t carry the typical HTC-like design elegance, people liked what they saw. Now, there’s a belief that HTC’s Pixel efforts, made after following what Google wanted, might have worked in the company’s favour.

If the supposed buyout goes through, then Google could attain full-control of the design, as well as the overall aesthetics of the phone. After all, HTC has its own manufacturing base that can roll out millions of device, across different price point. This would also imply that Google can price the phone the way it wants, which sounds like a fair deal.

HTC’s Phones — Good But Not Elite

The Taiwanese manufacturer has made some flashy yet good-looking devices like the HTC One, One M8 and the recent U11. If there’s one thing you can never doubt HTC for, then it’s definitely the design.

Now, after making the Pixel and Pixel XL in 2016, HTC has showed its capability, and if Google intends to chalk out its path among the premium brands like Samsung and Apple, HTC could offer them a solid ground to start-off with.

HTC phones don’t sell in big numbers, and that has been a pattern which was recently minimised with the U11 (if numbers are correct). With Google under its wing, things could change quickly for the brand, and offer them the consumer trust they’ve often been deprived of.

Keep it Simple

Right from the logo to its simple search page, Google has always maintained its philosophy of keeping it simple. HTC has done that to some extent, but it hasn’t delivered them any profitable results.

It has been a while since HTC showed in the smartphone market share reports with credible numbers to put it amongst the top brands. 

HTC’s got a better chance of popping up in the virtual reality gear market with its Vive headset (which is also priced at an absurd Rs 76,990 in India). All these factors clearly say that the head honchos at HTC might not be losing their sleep over the developments this week.

Google’s reported interest in HTC is somewhat justified, which could be a win-win scenario for both the parties.

Having said that, it remains to be seen how Google benefits from HTC, when a similar buyout of Motorola didn’t turn out to be a long-term relationship.

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