HTC plans three Android handsets this year

More momentum grows behind Google's operating system

HTC is planning three more Android-powered smartphones

HTC has announced plans to roll out three new handsets this year using Google's Android operating system.

Peter Chou, chief executive and co-founder of HTC, told delegates at the Merrill Lynch Technology Conference in Taipei that his company is planning to release at least three Android handsets, one of which he described as a " second-generation smartphone".

The Android-powered HTC Magic was launched at Mobile World Congress in February, and the new handsets are widely expected to become available towards the end of this year in time for the lucrative last quarter.

Chou also said that the company will produce 10 new smartphones before the year's end.

HTC has had a good 12 months, according to Chou, with revenues expected to be up 10 to 20 per cent on the year. Some analysts have questioned his optimism, however, since HTC saw sales drop 10 per cent in the first two months of the year.

The company will also be targeting the Chinese market, with new headsets aimed at boosting its market share in the region.

"The Chinese market did not do as well as expected because its 3G network was not up yet," Chou told Reuters. "When the network is up, sales should climb from then."