hightech computers

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High Tech Computer

Few Taiwanese companies have better pedigrees than smartphone specialist High Tech Computer, which is also the world's largest manufacturer of PDAs. The company's chairman is Cher Wang, the daughter of petrochemicals billionaire Wang Yung-ching, founder of the Formosa Plastics group and one of Taiwan's richest men. The family also controls chipset designer Via Technologies and memory chip-maker Nanya Technologies.

HTC's stock price has soared since last summer, nearly tripling, as investors have been impressed by its close ties with Microsoft. In its battle against rivals such as Symbian, Microsoft depends on the Taiwanese original design manufacturer to create smart phones that operate on Windows software. HTC's sales last year jumped 67%, to $1.6 billion, and profits were up 108%, to $123 million. Chances are good that HTC will be getting more attention: On May 12, the company made it onto the MSCI emerging markets index, which many Asian-based fund managers use as their benchmark.