PC maker Dell has announced that it is to enter thesmartphone marketin late November with the launch of
its first device in China.
The Dell smartphone, to be known as Mini 3, will run on Google's
Android mobile operating system, which is set to rival mobile
platforms developed by Apple and Microsoft.
The launch in China, which aims to tap into the large number of
potential subscribers, is to be followed by Brazil towards the end
of the year, with plans to sell a phone in the US in partnership
with AT&T, according to
Reuters.
Dell said the Mini 3 will be targeted at the consumer market
rather than enterprises. But analysts say it faces a challenge in
differentiating itself from established competitors such as Apple's
iPhone and Research in Motion's Blackberry.
The company has not officially announced plans to roll out its
smartphones in the US and elsewhere, but Dell said it had
agreements with telecom providers such as AT&T and Verizon in
the US and Vodafone in Europe, which will create more opportunities
for the company.