UPDATE 1-HTC sees China sales doubling, reaffirms outlook

* HTC sees sales in China doubling to 1.6 mln units

* HTC reaffirms double-digit revenue growth target

* More than 10 new models expected this year

* More acquisitions possible (Recasts throughout, adds details)

TAIPEI, March 17 (Reuters) - Smartphone vendor HTC (2498.TW) expects sales in China to double to 1.6 million units this year, and has reaffirmed its previous target of double-digit revenue growth this year, the company's chief executive said on Tuesday.

HTC expects sales momentum to pick up from the second quarter as the company pushes out new models in China, which contributes 5 percent to the company's revenues, Peter Chou said.

"The Chinese market didn't do as well as expected previously because their 3G network wasn't up yet," Chou told reporters on the sidelines of an investor event.

"When the network is up, sales should climb from then."

The company said in January it expects revenue to grow between 10-20 percent this year, but some analysts expressed concern about the company's ability to meet the target after its revenue fell by about 10 percent in the first two months of 2009.

A survey of 19 analysts by Reuters Estimates shows, on average, that they expect the company to see revenue growth of about 9 percent to T$166.3 billion ($4.8 billion) this year.

"The first quarter is typically the quiet season, so we should see growth from the next quarter onwards," Chou said. "New products will be pushed out from the second quarter onwards, and growth should pick up from then."

HTC will also roll out a second-generation smartphone using Google's (GOOG.O) Android operating system in the second quarter, Chou said, adding that a total of three such models would be introduced this year.

Chou also said his company would be introducing more than 10 new smartphone models amid the growing popularity of these feature-jammed phones with computer-like functions.

Chou also said the company was not ruling out more acquisitions in the future, after it bought design consultancy One & Co. to tap on its fashion expertise in December last year. [ID:nN03345815]

Research firm IDC says HTC has about a 5 percent share of the total smartphone market in 2008, ranking behind bigger rivals Nokia (NOK1V.HE), Research in Motion (RIM.TO) and Motorola MOT.N.

HTC shares closed 2.3 percent higher, outperforming a 1.41 percent advance on the benchmark TAIEX .TWII share index. (Reporting by Kelvin Soh and Roger Tung, Editing by Jacqueline Wong)