WSJ: Dell "preparing a move into cellphones as early as next month"
By Thomas Ricker 
posted January 30th 2009 1:52AM
posted January 30th 2009 1:52AM
You know who's blabbing again? That reclusive set of business people who always seem to be "familiar with the matter," that's who. This time, they've got the Wall Street Journal in a twist over renewed rumors that Dell is "preparing a move into cellphones as early as next month." Next month, is of course the big cellphone coming out party known as Mobile World Congress in Barcelona -- an event Dell has flat-out denied any intention to attend. Still, the evidence presented by the WSJ is pretty overwhelming. First, sources say that a variety of smartphone prototypes, including one with a QWERTY-less touchscreen and another with a sliding keyboard, have already been built running Android and Windows Mobile. Second, Dell's smartphone team "spent much of last year" meeting with suppliers, carriers, and Asian phone manufacturers. Dell's team includes the former head of Motorola's phone division (Ron Garriques) and another Moto employee (John Thode) who heads up Dell's netbook group. The latter being of interest since the iPhone and BlackBerry Storm are considered netbooks by their makers. Oh, and Dell still hasn't made good on its purchase of Zing and its plans to build an all encompassing media ecosystem to manage your audio and video files across PCs and mobile devices. Sources do contend that plans have not been finalized and Dell may still abandon the effort. But with Acer making the jump into Smartphones next month and other non-traditional players having great success in the space at the expense of the former cellphone powerhouses, one thing is clear: PC guys "will just walk in" and figure this out. Right Ed?
I think it would be awesome if Dell made a smart phone, especially if it was unlocked and ready for any GSM provider. hint*
but why keep my hopes up, right?
Remember the AXIM? They were pocket PC's, but they were really good devices. I have a feeling if Dell actually makes a smartphone, that it will have great build quality and reliability.
The only downside is they'll add a tech support charge onto your monthly phone bill... :-/
Not holding my breath for anything good out of this announcement, but Dell has been recently designing some funky looking laptops.
Dell smartphone? If that is even true, it probably just a rebadge of something from HTC/your usual Taiwan OEM. Wonder what the brand would be, Dell ditty phone? LOL If they really do it, I hope it's android, not another windows mobile.
They made pocket PC's and damn fine ones at that, so i really hope these rumors are true. It wouldnt be just a re branded HTC either.
Good grief, weren't the DJ Ditty and Digital Jukebox embarrassment enough?
Stick to what you know, Dell. Stylish, consumer electronics ain't it.
I predict FAIL.
I dont.
I dont know the jukeboxes they had werent that bad. I remember wanting to buy one just for the overall compatibility to all the music formats I had at the time.
I second that fail prediction.
If it'll look anything like the Adamo or the new Studio XPS with Android. I'd be all over it in a second!
I'm a PC...but I ain't walking in nowhere that Ed guy is...
The computer company has had a group of engineers working on the phones for more than a year from an office in the Chicago area, these people said, according to the newspaper.
Shares of Dell slid Thursday on news that $280 million in expenses related to restructuring efforts and stock-option expenses would cut deeply into its fourth-quarter results.
Lets wait and see. I hope its true..!
Love that "great" links to engadget.com :D
This year's WMC will be great.
Tegra, Android phones, Acer phone, more Pre, and a Dell rumor. Not the slightest bit excited about WM 6.5 though.
Dell, stay away! My Axim X50v sucked from the day I got it. Build quality was great, but it was so slow it was unusable for everyday use!
You shoulda gotten an X51v, mine was blazing fast, even played some 3D games on it! If only it has a phone, it would've been perfect.
my x51v is AMAZING.. Mobius_1 you upgraded from that archaic windows mobile 5 to 6.2 (or is it 6.5 by now)... check out htcgeeks for the rom
I think dell would be a formidable vendor in the mobile phone market........ They have a slight sense of style and decent enough products that I actually didnt mind working on when I was a tech........ Itd almost certainly be winmo I think.......
Is anyone else getting the idea that Android sounds great in theory but won't really work in practice? I'm starting to lose hope in it mainly because G1 hasn't been that great and other manufacturers are taking forever to get to market with their phones.
It took me 2 months to get a laptop shipped from Dell... a computer manufacturer. It was a very basic Inspiron 1525. The only added option was a bluetooth module. 2 Months to ship a product that you specialize in and which your entire business model is built around is embarrassing. FYI, I can walk into any of 3 local Apple stores and walk out with a similarly speced or better system today (bluetooth included). Why don't you work on improving your core business instead of jumping into new technology arenas just because your competitors are having success. The field of dreams theory does not work in every instance. Just because you build it, does not mean customers will come. It would be one thing if you hadn't learned this before. iPod yes, DJ Ditty no.
maybe ill finally get something out of http://www.alienandroid.com that i bought
Whatever happened to that NuviPhone?