HTC will be launching a dumb phone, otherwise known as a featurephone, and rumors have it that this launch may take place in September. Dumbphones still consist of the majority of cellular phone sales. These phones are targeted at the larger consumer markets and don’t feature expensive add-ons, software, and peripherals as smartphones do. HTC is hoping that these phone’s low price points will help them ship more units and increase their marketshare.

Currently, HTC manufactures two smartphone platforms based on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Google’s Android operating systems. The firm is the largest Windows Mobile licensee and launched the first Android phone in the T-Mobile G1, a device which we had previously reviewed.

The HTC non-smartphone will feature a design akin to the HTC Touch, run a custom-built operating system by HTC, and feature design elements from Touch FLO 3D and the HTC Sense UI, a user interface that debuted on the HTC Hero running Android and a UI that HTC has committed to porting to other phones including Windows Mobile.

HTC’s release of a dumbphone has been a rumor for some time now and isn’t too far fetched considering the company’s ambitions. The firm intends on becoming one of the top 3-5 phone manufacturers worldwide, which is quite a lofty goal. Nokia still leads the mobile market, followed by Samsung, LG, and Motorola.

(via: WMPowerUser)