LONDON, 13 NOVEMBER 2009 - In a surprising move, Dell said Friday it will sell its first-ever smartphone in Brazil and China, which should land on shelves as soon as the end of this month.
The device, called the Mini 3, will run the Android operating system, an open-source mobile operating system project nurtured by Google. Dell didn't release pricing or further technical details on the phone.
Rumors have circulated for months that Dell -- traditionally a desktop and laptop PC manufacturer -- would step into the crowded smartphone area. Dell said its move into smartphones was a "logical extension" of its consumer product strategy.
By launching in Brazil and China first, Dell clearly has its eye on developing markets. Dell will partner with China Mobile, the world's largest carrier by number of subscribers at more than 500 million. The Mini 3 should be available there by the end of the month.
In Brazil, Dell is partnering with Claro, where the device should debut by the end of the year. Claro has about 42 million subscribers.
