HTC's Evo 4G LTE and One X phones aren't available in the U.S., at least for now. The phones are being delayed due to patent disputes with Apple.
Apple was victorious in another patent dispute with HTC in December, which focused on the technology in the smartphones. Apple also has experience in disputes with Samsung over the similar designs of the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S devices.
"[T]he U.S. availability of the HTC One X HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. customs review that is required after an ITC (international Trade Commission) exclusion order," HTC said.
The One X is HTC's high-end phone in its trio of One devices, as the company seems to be streamlining its range of phones after criticism over saturation in the Android market. The Evo 4G LTE is launching for Sprint in 2012 and was available for pre-order from May 7, 2012. It's expected to be among Sprint's first LTE smartphones as the company introduces the faster data speeds. Launch of the 4G LTE was set for Friday, May 18.
HTC's devices would be banned from entering the U.S. from April 19, though HTC said it has a workaround to avoid the dispute. Altered phones would still have to be inspected.
An HTC official in Taipei said some One X devices reached the U.S. and went on sale. AT&T now says the phone is out of stock on its Web site.
"[HTC is in] compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with customs to secure approval," the company added, while Sprint and HTC didn't comment.
"Previously, it was expected that general exclusion order from the patent infringement referred to only old models from HTC. However, the latest news suggests otherwise with all models (new and old) potentially at risk," Goldman Sachs told clients via a trading note, seen by Reuters.
Goldman also said the U.S. market was expected to account for 15-20 percent of HTC's Q2 earnings, and the delay could also affect second and third quarter earnings.
