Dell wants to launch smartphone in China

Dell may launch a new line of Android-based smartphones for China Mobile, Information Week reported. Dell is in talks with China’s largest carrier to bring out smartphones that could be based on Google’s Android operating system. Zhang Jun, an analyst at research firm Wedge MKI, said the computer maker is in talks with China Mobile to release at least two smartphones by the end of the year. The move would benefit Dell, as the company would be able to capitalize on a growing market with little existing competition. Despite years of negotiations, Apple has yet to officially release the iPhone in China, and Research In Motion’s Blackberry subscriber base remains small. With about half a billion subscribers, a contract with China Mobile could provide a significant boost for Dell’s entry into the smartphone market, especially since US carriers have reportedly shown scant interest in Dell’s prototypes.