HTC has thrown its hat into the ring of handset manufacturers looking to tempt developers into creating apps specifically for its devices, announcing its plans for a developer programme to be launched alongside as SDK for its Sense user interface.

The firm says that www.HTCdev.com will launch this summer, featuring access to an extensive extensive resource library of tutorials, best practices, documentation and support.

A user feedback channel will also be included, said HTC, “for ongoing investments and improvements to the develop toolset and programme resources’.

“HTC is a company of engineers excited about the possibilities of the mobile space with the goal of fostering choice through innovation,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC. “We believe in openness and the power of imagination to create that innovation and are excited that HTCdev will extend new tools to mobile developers, helping them create the next wave of mobile experiences.”

The core offering of the program will be the HTC OpenSense SDK, which will enable Android developers to more deeply integrate into the HTC Sense 3.0 experience.

The framework will also provide APIs and sample code for 3-D display and the Tablet pen. The HTC OpenSense SDK will have regular updates and expansions based on inputs from the developer community.

HTC isn’t alone among device manufacturers in attempting to woo developers. Samsung launched its developer forum in May this year, which includes a remote test lab feature that allows developers to install and test applications on Samsung devices over the web.