Dell may be on the verge of launching smartphones based on both Google’s Android and Window’s Mobile operating systems. The launch could happen as early as next month at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain. The speculation about a Dell smartphone launch is being fueled by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which published details of a possible pending launch today online. The WSJ reports that the launch is not certain, and Dell may still abandon the idea. But they apparently have everything in place if they decide to move forward.
The move wouldn’t be too surprising. Dell recognizes that smartphones will soon surpass computers as the main device accessing the Internet. Smartphones are a logical diversification path for a company like Dell. They need to diversify beyond their computer heritage, and have been trying to do so for years with mixed success. But it won’t be easy. Smartphones are currently dominated by the Apple iPhone and the RIM BlackBerry. Successfully entering the market in the face of such competition will require patience, fortitude, a great product, and luck. No word on a potential wireless carrier partner for Dell.
