Dell to launch first Googlephone?

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 31 Jan 2008 at 12:04

Dell is reportedly close to releasing a smartphone based on Google's Android operating system.

Senior industry sources suggest that the two companies will make an announcement about the new hardware at next month's 3GSM conference, claims Marketing Week.

Dell has experience in the PDA market, selling Windows Mobile devices under the Axim brand from 2002 to April 2007, but has never released a mobile phone.

Creating a phone, and dropping Microsoft's operating system for Google's open alternative will be a radical new direction for the company.

Last year, Dell hired the former Motorola executive, Ron Garriques, leading to speculation at the time that Dell was considering a move into mobile phones.

Dell and Google already have existing partnerships, with the hardware maker manufacturing Google's Search Appliance.

Dell were unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

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