Dell Reportedly Resuming Its Windows Mobile Business

If a recent report is correct, Dell will soon be releasing handhelds and smartphones running Windows Mobile.

In the early part of this decade, Dell was a major player in the handheld computer market with its Axim series. However, the company dropped out as  interest in traditional handhelds waned and the market switched to smartphones.

Since that time, there have been unconfirmed but persistent reports that Dell is prepping a smartphone, especially after it hired Ron Garriques, a former Motorola executive, to be the head of its consumer group.

According to DigiTimes -- which cites unnamed "market sources in Taiwan" -- Dell began ramping up its mobile device plans shortly after it hired Garriques.

It is reportedly prepping both GPS-enabled traditional handhelds and smartphones, both running Windows Mobile.

The company is supposedly teaming up with Foxconn Electronics (aka Hon Hai Precision Industry) to design and manufacture these products.

The DigiTimes report does not say when Dell's new mobile devices are expected to be released.

What About Android?

Earlier this year, an unconfirmed report indicated that Dell is working on a smartphone running Google's upcoming Android operating system.

It is not known at this time if this most recent report means that the earlier one was incorrect, or if Dell plans to use both Android and Windows Mobile in its smartphones.

Related Articles:

• Dell May Unveil Its First Android Smartphone Next Month (Jan 2008)
• Dell No Longer Offering Any Axim Models (Apr 2007)