HTC, maker of the original Google phone, is boasting that demand is so high that sales will reach a million by the end of the year.

HTC's original sales forecast predicted 600,000 Google phones - launched in October - would be sold by the end of 2008. Peter Chou, HTC CEO, now believes that the number of sales will be a million units.

This number is still dwarfed by sales of the Apple iPhone 3G and RIM BlackBerry smartphones. Apple claims that nearly 7 million units of the iPhone were sold in Q3 2008.

HTC and Taiwan Mobile launched the Touch HD smartphone in Taipei today. Reports say that we should see the HTC Touch HD in the UK shortly. HTC representatives at the launch also could not give a time frame on when the Touch HD will launch in other parts of the world. Reports say the UK and Singapore will see the handset shortly.