HTC Corporation, a global designer of smartphones, is ramping up its operation in the Philippines by putting up retail stores to address the growing demand of the consumer market.

"HTC is committed to expand our retail presence in the country to increase our market visibility and reach more consumers as well as business users," Mark Dewey Sergio, HTC country manager for the Philippines said. The company is also planning to launch more concept stores before end this year and to enhance point of sale (POS) throughout strategic locations in country, he added.

At present, HTC has two concept stores in the Philippines located at the ground floor of Cyberzone in SM Mall of Asia and at the 4th floor of Cyberzone in SM North EDSA.

With HTC’s latest offerings on display, the stores allow customers to touch and feel the products for a more tactile and interactive shopping experience.

"We see a lot of opportunities in the consumer market in the Philippines. Right now we’re seeing a developing trend where our devices are picking up in the consumer segment unlike before that is mostly sought off by business users," Sergio said.

Ovum, a global advisory and consulting firm earlier projected that smartphone shipments globally are expected to grow at a compounded average growth rate of 19 percent through 2014.

The consulting firm added that smartphones will account for 29 percent of the total global handset market.

"The Philippines is a significant market for HTC and we intend to grow our market here," he added.

To address the mass-consumer segment, the company has expanded its device portfolio to include HTC Smart, a new type of smartphone that creates a new category of easy-to-use and affordable smartphone for the masses.

The HTC Smart makes poking and tweeting as easy as calling and texting, according to Sergio.

The company also launched the HTC HD mini, an HTC Sense-based Windows phone that focuses on delivering the popular experience of the HTC HD2 in a more compact design.

The HTC mini is perfect for ladies who are looking for stylish, sleek and powerful smartphone. In addition, it also launched the HTC Legend designed for technology-savvy consumers and business users.

The HTC Legend takes Android to the next level in both substance with HTC Sense and style with its revolutionary crafted aluminum uni-body design.