Acer Planning Two Android-based Devices This Year

An Acer spokesperson has revealed that his company intends to release two smartphones running Google's Android OS by the end of this year.

The details of this revelation are slightly unusual. A reporter for Engadget asked an Acer representative at the Mobile World Congress tradeshow about the rumors of an Android-based smartphone from his company, expecting to get a typical "no comment", but instead the rep told him that his company was planning not just one but two devices running this operating system.

Unfortunately, the Acer employee wasn't willing to reveal any additional details on these models, such as their design or possible release dates.

However, as this company didn't unveil either of them at the MWC, their debut likely isn't going to happen soon.

They will almost certainly include the standard Android applications that tie in to Google services, like its email, mapping, and instant message services.

Windows Mobile, Too
Acer is making a big move into the smartphone market. Gianfranco Lanci, the company's president, said smartphones could be responsible for up to 10% of Acer's revenue in the future.

It isn't going to use a single operating system to accomplish this; it intends to make smartphones with Android and Windows Mobile.

Android Popping Up All Over
The first model running Android, the T-Mobile G1, launched last fall, and since that time quite a number of device makers and wireless carriers have committed to it.

HTC, T-Mobile, and Samsung jumped on board early; more recent converts include Garmin, Sprint, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, Asus, and Archos, while Dell is supposedly interested, too.

Source: Engadget