Acer says to make Android phone in 2009
(For other news from the Reuters Global Technology Summit, click here) * Says almost impossible for phone makers to enter PC industry * Targets 6-7 pct of smartphone market by 2012-13 * Says in talks with 40 operators
(Adds details, quotes)
By Tarmo Virki, European technology correspondent
PARIS, May 20 (Reuters) - Acer Inc (2353.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's third-largest PC brand, plans to introduce a phone model running on Google's (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Android software this year, the head of its phone unit said on Wednesday.
The company plans to sell this year around 10 models, with all but one using Microsoft's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Windows Mobile software.
Aymar de Lencquesaing told the Reuters Global Technology Summit in Paris Acer was seeing a lot of benefit from its laptop offering when looking for operator-partners to sell its smartphones.
Acer entered the market for smartphones -- mobile phones that offers advanced computer-like capabilities -- this year following the acquisition of Taiwan's portable device-maker Eten Information Systems Co in 2008.
The fast growing smartphone industry has emerged as a battleground between traditional phone-makers and PC makers with Asustek (2357.TW: Quote, Profile, Research), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Lenovo (0992.HK: Quote, Profile, Research), and Dell (DELL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) also eyeing the growth market. Continued...
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