News Brief: Dell to deliver a smartphone?

The computer-maker may be ready to take the plunge in the cell phone arena. According to ComputerWorld, CEO Michael Dell recently said in Tokyo that the company is "exploring smaller screen devices." What the devices will look like or when they will be available weren't disclosed. Still, InformationWeek reports that wireless carriers were unimpressed with an early prototype of the Dell smartphone.

The takeaway: Dell's interest in smartphones isn't surprising, given sagging sales of computers (except for netbooks) and the wild success of Apple's iPhone. (As previously noted, Acer is also ready to jump into the cell phone market.) Dell had previously offered handhelds that used Microsoft Windows Mobile software. And as ComputerWorld reported, Dell already has agreements with "many mobile carriers" for its 3G radios in notebooks and laptops. But what do you think? Will Dell be able to deliver a capable iPhone competitor? Feel free to weigh in below. In the meantime, we'll keep an eye out for any further announcements from Dell.

Comments

[Michael]

It is being blogged that Dell may be interested in purchasing Palm. The purchase of that company, which is banking its future on the success of the Pre smartphone, would make sense for both companies, as Palm needs cash to stay operating and Dell would like to get into the market, as you reported, without having to break ground on their own product. Whether this theory holds would depend on how much time they have spent in production of a phone. That they are announcing a desire to get in the market says nothing of whether they had designs to involve themselves and taken steps in that direction. But the purchase of Palm by Dell is pure speculation at this point; it just makes sense from an outsider's perspective.

[Josh]

Two words: "customer support". If Dell can't do it with their mainstay, they're not likely to do it with a completely new product line either.