AT&T and Dell plan joint Android phone launch

by Michelle L on October 9, 2009

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And then there were four. Sprint and T-Mobile already offer smartphones that use Android, Google’s mobile operating system. Verizon and Google just announced their intentions to collaborate and release two Android phones before the end of the year. Android is seen as a potentially formidable competitor to Apple and its iPhone, which is currently offered exclusively by AT&T. Now AT&T is rounding out the big four with their own plans for an Android-based smartphone in a joint venture with PC computer manufacturer Dell.

Android got off to a bit of a slow start when Google released it in the fall of 2007. It wasn’t until late 2008 that the first phone that used the software was released, T-Mobile’s G1. Now it seems to be picking up momentum, permeating the mobile market now with all four major wireless carriers.

Meanwhile, the iPhone is still only offered by AT&T, although rumors have been circulating for months about Verizon possibly becoming the next carrier to offer it, either in addition to or instead of AT&T. Apple’s exclusive contract with AT&T expires next year. AT&T has been courting Apple to extend their contract, at least through 2011, but nothing has been announced yet.

Despite its many loyal users, the iPhone has been plagued with many problems due to AT&T’s lack of network support for features like MMS, which just became available on September 25, and tethering, which is still not available in the United States without jailbreaking the phone. Add to that Verizon’s superior 3G network, and it doesn’t look good for AT&T to hold onto the iPhone beyond its 2010 contract expiration date.

Enter Dell. Could AT&T be collaborating with the computer company in anticipation of losing its partner in Apple? This will be Dell’s first foray into the smartphone arena. In fact, the company doesn’t produce phones at all. Its only mobile device, the Axim, was discontinued in 2007, and since then, the company has focused on what it does best—computers.

Still, there were rumblings about Dell wanting to get back into the mobile market. It’s not clear which company approached the other, and neither company is commenting on this joint project. It also hasn’t been confirmed whether the new Android phone, to be released sometime in 2010, will be available in the United States right away.

Considering the possible, if not probable, loss of the iPhone, it would make sense for AT&T to want the Android phone to be as widely available as possible. But it’s also not clear how proficient Dell will be at producing a smartphone. They’re coming late to the party, and they have the iPhone and other Android phones to compete with. We’ll have to wait and see what these two companies have up their very large sleeves.

Filed under : AT&T