Google likely to take over HTC smartphone business

HTC smartphones might sell under Google's name soon as the search giant reportedly is interested in acquiring the Taiwanese smartphone maker's phone business. 

Google is mulling over two options to close the deal with HTC, reported Chinese publication Commercial Times. The firm is considering to "either become a strategic partner, or outright buy the entire smartphone unit", the report added. 

It stated that HTC's virtual reality business (HTC Vive) would not be part of the deal. It is also need to be noted that HTC builds Google's line of smartphone, Google Pixel. 

Both Google and HTC declined to react on the reports.

But if the deal would happen, it would be second such acquisition after Google's $12.5 billion buyout of Motorola in 2012. Google had bought Motorola Mobility and then sold it off just a couple of years later to Lenovo for $2.91 billion in 2014.

In July, HTC unveiled its premium flagship smartphone HTC U11 in India at Rs 51,990 which is touted to have the highest-rated smartphone camera in the world. 

Meanwhile, In India, HTC still holds a strong market share. 

According to the CyberMedia Research mobile brand perception report released in February, when customers were asked about names of successful premium smartphones brands, "almost all respondents (97%) recalled Samsung. Apple and HTC secured 85% and 78% recall respectively." 

"HTC's overall market share in the first quarter of 2017 was around 0.26% . HTC's market share in above Rs 50,000 price band in Q1, 2017 was 1.82% ," the report by CyberMedia Research said.