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HTC SAYS US GROWTH TOPS RIVALS
HTC’s CEO Peter Chou says growth in the US market is outpacing other smartphone manufacturers this year, indicating it has gained crucial brand recognition amid stronger support from US mobile operators, writes WSJ. HTC shipped 5.5 million to 6 million smartphones to the US market last year, according to its annual report. In an exclusive interview Friday, Chou said that number is expected to grow this year, though he didn’t say by how much. He says the company’s US partners have shown strong support for HTC’s smartphones. "They (Verizon and T-Mobile) started treating us as their first-tier suppliers last year,” he said. The company has also announced plans to introduce six models with its Chinese partner China Mobile for the domestic market this year. (Wall Street Journal)

MICROSOFT SET TO UNVEIL NEW LINE OF HANDSETS WITH SOCIAL NETWORKING CAPABILITIES
Microsoft plans to introduce a new line of mobile phones Monday with social networking capabilities aimed at young consumers, according to sources familiar with the matter. (Wall Street Journal)

OFCOM’S CHANGES FOCUS 3 ON USER FIGURES
3 has vowed to start aggressively enlarging its customer base following Ofcom’s proposal for deep cuts in the charges mobile operators can levy for connecting calls to their networks. The company has said it is planning to cut the price of its phone calls in the next two years following Ofcom’s proposed cuts to termination rates, which will take the charges close to zero, writes FT. (Financial Times)

ORASCOM LOSES ALGERIAN TAX APPEAL
Algerian tax authorities have rejected a second appeal by Orascom Telecom Algeria against a tax reassessment for 2004-2007, which resulted in a demand for USD596.6 million in penalties and back taxes, FT writes. Orascom Telecom now says it will challenge the reassessment in Algeria’s administrative court. (Financial Times)