By HTC’s announced they’ve acquired Abaxia, a firm that creates custom user interfaces for handset manufacturers and carriers. CEO Cedric Mangaud says HTC and Abaxia have worked closely with each other since they were founded in 2001 as their businesses complement each other nicely. HTC CEO Peter Chou commented on the deal, saying:
“HTC is committed to creating the best possible mobile experience for our customers today, tomorrow and into the future. “The addition of Abaxia deepen and broaden our software development capabilities so that we can innovate at an even faster pace.”
These have no apparent implications for HTC’s Android fronts yet, from what I can tell. There are a number of different reasons HTC could’ve purchased the firm. For starters, let’s not forget that HTC also produces handsets for the veteran operating system Windows Mobile. Even more plausible would be the idea that this has nothing to do with HTC’s smartphones period: they could just be venturing into a new territory that Abaxia’s already set the groundwork in. Or HTC Sense on Android will just get even more awesome from here (but that’s a given, anyway).
It’s always notable when HTC makes movements regarding their user interface business as HTC Sense has become a great deal for them over the past few years (both in consumer adoption and legal disputes). Read on for the full press release.
HTC STRENGTHENS SOFTWARE CAPABILITIES WITH
ACQUISITON OF ABAXIA
TAOYUAN TAIWAN – June 7, 2010 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, today announced it has acquired Paris-based Abaxia, a leader in custom software for mobile operators and handset manufacturers around the world.
“HTC is committed to creating the best possible mobile experience for our customers today, tomorrow and into the future,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “The addition of Abaxia deepen and broaden our software development capabilities so that we can innovate at an even faster pace.”
“HTC and Abaxia have worked closely together in the past and our businesses complement each other well,” said Cedric Mangaud, CEO of Abaxia. “We’re excited to be joining such a significant and emerging mobile brand.”
About Abaxia
Founded in 2001, Abaxia is a leading software developer specializing in mobile solutions that quickly promote and monetize operator and handset manufacturer services on smartphones. For more information about Abaxia, please visit www.abaxia.com.
About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative smartphones that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
Maybe they have patents apple is infringing on.
@Dave, I was just thinking the same.
Not just patents. Can you say Sense UI 2.0?