Taiwan-based smartphone vendor HTC on January 7 reported net earnings per share of NT$1.21 for the fourth quarter of 2012, the lowest quarterly level since the company was listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

The decrease in fourth-quarter consolidated revenues was partly because HTC launched many new smartphone models after mid-November, according to local stock market analysts.

As HTC has to compete with Apple and Samsung Electronics in the global high-end smartphone market segment and with China-based vendors and white-box vendor for entry- and mid-range models in the China market, the company's business operation in 2013 is expected to face serious challenge, the sources pointed out.

HTC also reported consolidated revenues of NT$21.569 billion (US$740 million) for December, rising by 1.60% on month but dropping by 18.18% on year, and those of NT$289.020 billion for the whole year of 2012, falling by 37.95% from 2011.