HTC Might Launch Music Streaming Service at MWC 2012

It looks like HTC is trying to stave off competition by launching new services that go well with its Android smartphones. The Taiwanese handset manufacturer has big plans for this year’s Mobile World Congress 2012, which is opening at the end of the month.

Tech site GigaOm claims that “sources familiar with the company’s plans” tipped them on an HTC music streaming that will be announced during MWC. HTC is trying to take on other music streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora, but the handset maker has a few aces up its sleeve.

First of all, the rumored service will be launched in collaboration with Beats Audio, the company that is now owned by famous rapper and producer Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, an important person in the music industry.

Apparently Jimmy Iovine, who is also Interscope-Geffen-A&M’s chairman, hates Spotify so much that is willing to do everything in his power to bring it down. It looks like HTC will offer this opportunity by launching together this music streaming service.

For those unfamiliar, Interscope-Geffen-A&M is one of Universal Music Group units in North America and already recruited quite a slew of hip hop, rock, pop and urban stars.

Furthermore, HTC is rumored to launch a new tablet at the Mobile World Congress. This will probably be slightly bigger than the HTC Flyer and will most likely be powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Rumor has it that HTC will also announce several LTE-enabled devices, which will be launched in North America within the next few months.

The Taiwanese company came forward with a statement several weeks ago and confirmed that due to fierce competition on the smartphone market its financial results were heavily hit.

This is one of the reasons HTC decided to release fewer but better devices in 2012. It appears that new services will be the point of differentiation for HTC devices this year.