HTC has teamed up China-based Internet company QQ.com to launch a customized version of its ChaCha social networking smartphone in the China market. The HTC-QQ tie-up comes after HTC launched another social networking phone, the Salsa, in China in cooperation with Sina.com in June.

QQ.com had previously cooperated only with China-based handset vendors including Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Beijing Tianyu Communication Equipment, Hisense and Yulong Computer Technology (Coolpad) to launch QQ-branded handsets.

QQ.com chose HTC to launch new social networking phones due to HTC's ability to develop customized smartphones, according to industry sources.

In addition to cooperating with Internet companies, HTC has also launched its dual-core HTC Sensation smartphones in China in cooperation with China Unicom, targeting the high-end segment.

To further expand its market share in China, HTC has expanded R&D staff in China to 400 recently from 60 in 2010 and plans to raise the number to 800 in the future, according to the company.