Fast-rising smartphone vendor HTC will aggressively expand sales this quarter, fuelled by growing demand for devices based on Google’s Android operating system. The Taiwanese vendor said yesterday it plans to increase shipments by nearly 50 percent in the next three months, from 3.3 million handsets in the first quarter to 4.5 million in the second. In an interview with the Financial Times, Cheng Hui-ming, CFO, said these numbers “indicate the growing popularity of the Android platform in Europe and the US.” HTC is one of the strongest proponents of Android and was the first to support Google’s mobile operating system two years ago. It built Google’s Nexus One device, is working with US operator Sprint on Evo, the world’s first WiMAX smartphone, and also offers other critically acclaimed Android smartphones such as the Desire and Incredible. Dow Jones Newswires also notes that HTC expects second-quarter revenue to hit a record T$50 billion, an increase of 30.9 percent from T$38.2 billion a year earlier.

As well as Android, HTC is also the world’s largest maker of phones using Microsoft’s operating system in terms of shipments. It plans to announce a Windows 7 phone by the end of this year, Microsoft’s new operating system that is deemed crucial to the software giant’s future role in mobile. Meanwhile HTC yesterday signed a licensing deal with Microsoft covering its own phones running Android. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties from HTC for using Microsoft’s IP. Specific details were not forthcoming.  Analysts believe the deal is notable as it leaves the door open for Microsoft to target other Android handset makers such as LG, Motorola and Samsung.