Ads by TechWords

See your link here
Receive the latest technology news and information.
Mobile/Wireless Computing
Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
The Weekly Top 10
Cloud Computing
View all newsletters




Privacy Policy
 

Michael Dell hints at smartphones, mobile Internet devices

CEO says it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a smartphone or similar device from the company

March 24, 2009 12:00 PM ET

IDG News Service - Michael Dell gave the strongest hint to date that his company is developing a mobile Internet device or smartphone at a speech in Tokyo today.

"It is true that we are exploring smaller-screen devices," he said. "We don't have any announcements to share today, but stay tuned as when we have new news we will share that with you."

Dell, who is CEO of the company that bears his name, said he is watching the development of ecosystems that have built up around small mobile devices. Apple Inc. has been selling applications to users of its iPhone for some time, and in recent months, Google Inc. joined with its own online store sales of programs that run its Android smartphone operating system. Last month, market leader Nokia Corp. jumped on the bandwagon and said it would also launch an application store.

"For the last three years, we have integrated 3G radios into our notebooks," said Dell. "We already have agreements with many mobile carriers around netbook devices, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect that we would have smaller mobile Internet devices or smartphones in the future."

His comments came as rumors swirl about prototypes of a device being shopped around U.S. wireless carriers and manufacturing orders for smartphones placed with a Taiwanese contract manufacturer.

Dell didn't offer any additional information about the company's possible moves and declined to comment on a report in today's Commercial Times newspaper in Taiwan that Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the world's largest contract manufacturer of electronics, had received an order from Dell Inc. to make smartphones.

This week, some analysts have also been publicly contemplating an acquisition of Palm Inc. by Dell as a fast track into the phone and mobile device market.

Dell said buying other companies remains an option for expansion into the smartphone market but noted that its acquisitions focus is elsewhere at present.


Reprinted with permission from

IDG.net
Story copyright 2009 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

Jump to comments

Michael Dell

Additional Resources

Xerox
By using solid ink technology only from Xerox, you could save up to 65% by printing color for the cost of black and white. Enter for a chance to WIN a PhaserTM 8860 network color printer!
Microsoft
Save time and mitigate security risk. Deploy it now.
Sybase
In this white paper, IDC analyzes the role of next-generation mobile enterprise platforms as organizations seek a more strategic deployment of mobile solutions.

Learn the important issues you must consider before starting your next mobility initiative. Get your mobility white paper from IDC now, compliments of Sybase.

What People Are Saying

White Papers & Webcasts

Southern Company
Download Now  

Managing Laptops Outside the Office
Learn how you can reduce costs by tracking mobile computers no matter where they are located.

4G Ahead Video Program
Uncover the features and benefits of the two leading 4G technologies for enterprises considering future deployment.

Case Study: Roughing IT
Download Now