HTC’s Google Android plans appear to have hit a snag. The upcoming Android-powered HTC Lancaster intended for AT&T has either been delayed or canceled according to Digitimes sources. The setback is due to the fact that the device has yet to pass AT&T validation. No details were given to explain the validation delays.
The news comes at a bad time for HTC. Earlier this week, market research firm Canalys released smartphone market share numbers showing that HTC’s U.S. market share dropped from 8 percent in Q2 2008 to 5.6 percent in Q2 2009.
The HTC Lancaster was to have featured a customized user interface focusing on social messaging. Powered by a Qualcomm MSM7225 processor, it would have come with tri-band (850/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE and dual band (850/1900Hz) HSDPA connectivity, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.8-inch QCGA display, Bluetooth 2.0, A-GPS, a 3MP fixed-focus camera, a microSD card slot, and a 1350mAh battery.
AT&T is still planning to launch two additional Windows Mobile devices in the fall. Fortunately for HTC, these will be the Warhawk (Touch Diamond2) and Fortress (Touch Pro2). This should help the company offset some of the revenue losses from the HTC Lancaster delay/cancellation.