Dell announced the release of the Android-based Dell Mini 3 on Friday, their first entry into the smartphone vertical. The phone will be distributed in China around the end of November and by year’s end in Brazil.
Dell Mini 3 will be available in China through China Mobile, the biggest telecommunication company with 500 million customers. Brazilians will be able to buy from Claro, wireless carrier which serves more than 42 million people.
The announcement by Dell ends the two year long speculation about its development of a smartphone device. Dell already sells netbooks with built in wireless technology.
“Our entry into the smart phone category is a logical extension of Dell’s consumer product evolution over the past two years,” said Ron Garriques from Dell.
The Mini 3 in China will be running on Ophone, China Mobile’s customization of the Google’s Android mobile operating system.
The company said the full technical and pricing specification will be revealed when the phone hits the shelves. Dell Mini 3 is a keyboardless phone with capacitive touchscreen. Michael Tatelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Dell, revealed to the AP reporter that the phone will spot 3.5 inch high-definition screen.
The Dell Mini 3 will be shipped in China without Wi-Fi support due to the government ban of the technology. According to the Tatelman, China’s own version of wireless support will be added later. Apple’s iPhone was recently released in China without Wi-Fi as well.
The recent filling with the FCC indicates that the company intends to sell the phone in the U.S., where it will meet fierce competition by iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, as well as recently introduced Android-based Motorola Droid.
Dell Mini 3 will be available in China through China Mobile, the biggest telecommunication company with 500 million customers. Brazilians will be able to buy from Claro, wireless carrier which serves more than 42 million people.
The announcement by Dell ends the two year long speculation about its development of a smartphone device. Dell already sells netbooks with built in wireless technology.
“Our entry into the smart phone category is a logical extension of Dell’s consumer product evolution over the past two years,” said Ron Garriques from Dell.
The Mini 3 in China will be running on Ophone, China Mobile’s customization of the Google’s Android mobile operating system.
The company said the full technical and pricing specification will be revealed when the phone hits the shelves. Dell Mini 3 is a keyboardless phone with capacitive touchscreen. Michael Tatelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Dell, revealed to the AP reporter that the phone will spot 3.5 inch high-definition screen.
The Dell Mini 3 will be shipped in China without Wi-Fi support due to the government ban of the technology. According to the Tatelman, China’s own version of wireless support will be added later. Apple’s iPhone was recently released in China without Wi-Fi as well.
The recent filling with the FCC indicates that the company intends to sell the phone in the U.S., where it will meet fierce competition by iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre, as well as recently introduced Android-based Motorola Droid.
