Taiwan?s largest mobile- phone maker HTC Corp may be seen to develop its own operating system for its smartphones, reducing its reliance on outside developers. "We continue to assess, but that requires a few conditions to justify? having our own system, Cheng Hui-ming, chief financial officer of the Taoyuan, Taiwan-based company, said in a phone interview with Bloomberg today.

The move would intensify competition with Google and Microsoft. HTC is already produces phones using Google and Microsoft software.

HTC is the world?s largest maker of phones using Microsoft?s Windows Mobile platform and was the first to release a handset based on Google?s Android.

HTC is also among possible bidders for Palm, according to industry sources. However, Mr. Cheng did not comment on whether HTC has studied Palm for possible acquisition.

Apple and RIM - both successful smartphone players - are using their own platform for their smartphones.