Earlier this week we found out that HTC has a Nokia exclusive microphone in their HTC One. We also learned that it was the component supplier (STMicroelectronics) fault and not HTC’s. This week, HTC released a statement that offered reassurances that they would continue to have supplies for their flagship device, saying that they would continiue to use microphones it already purchased “because they were purchased in good-faith”. HTC also stated that “Nokia’s attempt to obtain a recall of microphones already sold to HTC failed.”
In addition, HTC was also eager to clarify that Nokia didn’t take legal action against HTC directly, but against STMicroelectronics. Which, in my opinion is what they should have done. Nokia simply said “HTC has no license or authorization from Nokia to use these microphones or the Nokia technologies from which they have been developed” so it looks like Nokia is pressing hard about this.
It appears that this would be good news for HTC, right? Well HTC appears to not be planning on fighting for continued use of the microphone. The injunction that was received lasts until March 2014. HTC has also said that it “will transition to improved microphone designs once its inventory of STM microphones is exhausted.”
So it looks like HTC is going to use what they’ve bought already then move onto another microphone. Which seems like the logical thing to do since they didn’t purchase the microphones knowing they were Nokia exclusive. I’m hoping that HTC can take a nice bite out of Samsung’s lead in the smartphone market this year, as that will lead to better competition instead of Samsung running away with it. But it’s still a bit early to tell, all these setbacks are definitely not helping HTC in the long run.
How many of you blamed HTC for the microphone issue with Nokia? Let us know in the comments down below.