Taiwan's HTC, which makes Android smartphones and the Vive VR headset, is considering strategic options, including selling part or all of the company, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

• HTC has retained an advisor and is looking at options including bringing in a strategic investor and selling or spinning off its virtual reality business, Bloomberg said.
• The company has seen its share of the phone business slip and, although the Vive is a leader in the VR space, that market remains a niche business.
• History lesson: HTC, which got its start making handhelds for others, was once among the top three smartphone makers in the world (and briefly No. 1 in the U.S.) before losing considerable ground to Samsung and others in the market for Android smartphones.