Report: HTC looking to sell its smartphone business to Google

HTC is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to sell its smartphone business to tech giant Google.

As reported by Digitimes, Google is either looking to be a strategic partner, or buy out the business entirely. This would not affect HTC's Vive VR business.

The reported move comes after HTC posted revenues of $99.7 million for August 2017, its lowest revenues in 13 years. It is a 51.5% decrease in revenues month-on-month.

All roads lead to here

HTC and Google already have a working relationship, with the former having manufactured the latter's Pixel phone. It is also working on a standalone Vive VR headset powered by Google's Daydream VR technology.

Our sister site TheVirtualReport.biz predicted HTC might sell its smartphone business back in August 2017. This was based on reports that the company was looking to spin-off its Vive business into a separate company.

HTC had already announced plans to sell its smartphone factory in Shanghau for $90 million in March 2017. All these plans points to the firm pivoting entirely to VR.