Dell finally ready to announce smartphones next month–maybe

After over a year and a half of rumors and speculation, the Wall Street Journal reported that Dell will indeed announce plans to release smartphones aimed to compete with Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion’s Blackberry in February – maybe. Dell refused to comment on the report and the Journal admits that plans are not finalized and could be scrapped at the last minute. Here is what is known about the phones that maybe, perhaps, might get released.

Code named the MePhone (wonder who they are targeting with that name), there will be two different versions. One will run on Google’s Android operating system, the other on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software. One phone will have a touch screen similar to the iPhone and the other will have a slide out keypad similar to the T-Mobile G1. The Journal was not clear on which OS would go with which phone, nor were there other technical specifications announced. Google and Microsoft were also mum on the report. What is known is that the phones would go on sale September 9, 2009 and will be “customizable,” though there is no indication exactly what that means.

So while the information is suspect at best, there is a logical reason for the belief that the announcement will come in February. Motorola’s former cell phone chief, Ron Garriques, was hired by Dell to revamp their consumer products division. Garriques was prohibited from working on any cell phones due to a non-compete agreement. That agreement expires in February. We will keep watching with baited breath for the official announcement.

From [Wall Street Journal]
Via [Reuters]
Via [PC World]