Some Android devices made by Foxconn

Dec 23, 2009 14:21 GMT  ·  By

Computer maker Acer is reportedly gearing up to launch more smartphones during the upcoming year 2010. According to a recent article on DigiTimes, the number of devices Acer would launch next year should be of around 8 to 10, though previous reports pointed towards a larger number. However, it seems that the company still intends to deliver more Android phones than Windows Mobile-based ones, the news site notes.

It seems that Acer plans the outsourcing of the manufacturing process of three of its upcoming Android-based mobile phones to Foxconn International Holdings (FIH), and that those devices will include ST-Ericsson's PNX6719 3G chipset solutions, designed mainly for the entry-level segment of the market. At the same time, an entry-level Acer mobile phone running under Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system is expected to be delivered by Inventec Appliances.

At the same time, the news site also says that the company would plan the development of more devices that will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon solutions, and those smartphones are said to be mainly aimed for the mid and high-end segments of the market. However, Acer is said to plan sub-contracting the manufacturing of these handsets to Compal Communications on an EMS basis as well.

Another interesting tidbit is that Acer also intends to work on the development of a smartphone that would run under Qualcomm's Brew Mobile Platform. The said handset is expected to reach the market as an affordable model, which would prove a great competitor against handsets from the Taiwanese phone maker HTC Corporation. At the same time, the move is expected to attract carriers on Acer's side.

“To strengthen its handset design capability, Acer has recently incorporated 30 members from the handset unit of Taiwan-based Mitac International into its R&D team for the development of Android-platform models, said the sources. Acer now has a smartphone R&D team of 400-500 members, and the team may further expand to 750, the sources indicated,” the news site further notes.