HTC working on streaming music device?

Taiwan-based smartphone maker HTC is considering branching out to streaming music services to shore up its flagging fortunes, a tech site reported.

 

GigaOM cited sources who said HTC is working on new products including a new tablet, new phones and possibly a music streaming service.

 

It said its sources claim HTC, which last year acquired a substantial stake in Beats Audio - a company started by  Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre - is said to be working with Iovine to develop a streaming service that will be offered as a default music client on HTC phones and tablets.

 

Also, it said its sources claim the company is still working on pricing plans and other details.

 

GigaOM also noted Iovine had said in an interview with The Los Angeles Times last year that getting Beats audio into HTC phones is one of the first things it is going to do.

 

It added Iovine is "perhaps one man who could get the record labels to sign up for this streaming service."

 

Also, GigaOM said the company is also working on a wireless boombox that would most likely stream music from HTC phones over Bluetooth.

 

It said the company now sells a wireless boombox that is made by Monster, until recently a partner of Beats Audio.

 

Music service

 

Citing its sources, GigaOM said the music service could be launched later this month at Mobile World Congress.

 

GigaOM noted HTC has seen a softening of its business in recent months, squeezed by low-cost Chinese handset makers like Huawei and ZTE Corp. on one end and Samsung on the top end of the market. — TJD, GMA News