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One of Acer's mystery smartphones exposed, doesn't look so smart
Acer has a flamenco-themed party in store for Mobile World Congress attendees, pledging to finally unveil its oft-delayed line of smartphone debutantes amidst a flurry of stomping feet and clapping hands. Unfortunately for the proud parent it seems one randy model just couldn't keep quiet until then, caught in the wild by Mr. Blurrycam with its QWERTY showing. No details are known beyond its rather chunky look when the keyboard is positioned like this, but we'll surely have all the details for you in about two weeks -- after politely excusing ourselves from the dance floor, of course.
Acer-branded smartphone (purportedly) still on for 2009
For the third time this year, we're hearing straight from totally unofficial, somewhat sketchy Acer sources that the firm is still planning on producing its own smartphone in 2009. The latest report has company chairman JT Wang stating that the eventual launch may not happen until Q2 2009 (red flag), and he blamed the possible delay on the ongoing negotiations with carriers across the globe. If you'll recall, Acer's been talking up its own phone ever since it took E-Ten Information Systems in under its wings, but many months later, we still have no concrete evidence that anything is going on (mobile wise, at least) behind the firm's doors. We suppose time will tell, but we have serious doubts the hardcore Acer faithful will be holding their breath.[Via Slashgear]
Acer aims to launch first smartphone around year's end
It wasn't too long ago that Acer was finalizing paperwork to acquire E-Ten, and now that it's moving on, we're hearing that the company should be launching its very first (aw, how cute) smartphone in around eight to ten months. According to the firm's president, it's aiming to introduce the handset "near the end of this year or early next year," and it will indeed "be Microsoft-based." Gianfranco Lanci also suggested that smartphones could represent up to 10-percent of the company's revenue within the next few years. Notably, the outfit is apparently planning to move its phones via mobile network operators, and while it typically takes six to nine months to sweet talk a carrier into marketing a new smartphone, it hopes to use its "existing relationships with telecommunications companies to speed up such sales." Sadly, we're not given any clues about what carriers it's aiming for, but it won't be too awfully long before we're sure to find out.
