HTC, the Taiwanese handset maker which posted its first loss on record last quarter, unveiled a new handset with fingerprint sensor, joining Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) in featuring the security technology.
One Max will feature HTC’s UltraPixel camera technology, first unveiled with the HTC One in February. Its fingerprint sensor is on the device’s back while Apple’s is on the front. Unlike Apple’s version, the Max can be programmed to automatically open one of three favorite apps, depending on which finger is used.
It has a 5.9-inch high-definition screen and can run on fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution networks, according to an e-mailed statement. The device uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor and Google’s Android 4.3 operating system.
HTC spokesman Tom Harlin said the company designed the Max with a fingerprint sensor to make the larger device easier to operate with one hand. Engineers also moved the power button to the side. On smaller models, it’s on top of the phone, when held vertically.
The Max has a screen that measures 5.9 inches diagonally. That compares with the 4.7 inches on the standard version and the 4.3 inches on the HTC One Mini. HTC is designing its software to take advantage of the larger screen. With many Android phones, images and text simply get larger on bigger phones. With the Max, the layout of selected apps is reformatted to fit more content.
The Max also has more battery capacity than the smaller models, but otherwise shares their design and hardware features. Like the other Ones, the Max has a camera that can capture better low-light shots than the typical smartphone camera, but images are of lower resolution, at 4 megapixels. The Max weighs 7.7 ounces, which is more than the 5.9 ounces for Samsung’s 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3.
The price hasn’t been announced, but it likely will be comparable to the $300 for the Note 3 and Motorola’s Droid Maxx. That price typically requires a two-year service agreement and is $100 more than the regular HTC One, Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and Motorola’s Droid Ultra when they launched. (Mini versions of the One and the Droid go for $100 with a contract; the S4 Mini is currently available only overseas.)
Apple last month unveiled its iPhone 5s with a fingerprint sensor designed to boost security and aid content purchases while HTC said its handset can automatically start an application according to which finger is scanned. HTC, which has struggled to regain share from Asian device makers including Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Corp., will release the new smartphone by the end of this month.
HTC shares, which closed unchanged in Taipei trading yesterday before the announcement, have declined 58 percent this year. Third-quarter sales dropped 33 percent to NT$47 billion ($1.6 billion), missing analysts’ estimates for NT$54 billion, as its net loss of NT$2.97 billion was wider than the NT$1.71 billion average of analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.
Harlin said HTC is offering variety to meet consumers’ differing needs. Some might prefer a small device that is cheap and can fit in the pocket of skinny jeans, while others might want more screen space.
As for the fingerprint sensor, HTC is including similar security safeguards found in the iPhone 5S. A mathematical representation of the fingerprint is stored on the phone in a secured location, inaccessible to other apps or remote servers. However, HTC does plan to eventually offer a way for other apps to use the ID system, without accessing the fingerprint data directly. Apple has no current plans for third-party access.
Despite assurances of security from Apple, a German hacking group claims to have bypassed the system using a household printer and some wood glue to create an artificial copy of a genuine fingerprint. Apple hasn’t commented on that.
HTC said Verizon and Sprint Corp. will sell the HTC One Max in the U.S. in time for the holidays. AT&T Inc. has been offering the Mini since August. All four national carriers, including T-Mobile US Inc., have the standard version.
