14 DAY TRIAL // Fujitsu, the Japanese multinational computer hardware and IT services company, decided to start focusing on mobile phone market and chose an Android-based device as its first smartphone. After announcing one month ago, its plans to merge cell phone operations with Toshiba company starting October this year, it seems that the rumors are true, and Fujitsu will indeed start producing its own branded mobile phones.
While there are no details regarding the first Android smartphone manufactured by Fujitsu, the company let some info slip to the Japanese media, which reports that an Android-based device is indeed in development and that it should hit the market somewhere next year. The reportedly smartphone is supposed to be distributed through Japan's largest network operator, NTT Docomo.
Even though it doesn't have any smartphones in its lineup, joining operations with Toshiba will make Fujitsu set a foothold on Asian mobile phone market. It seems that the new smartphone will also be offered on the international markets, but info about a specific date haven't been disclosed yet.
The device in question might be based on an older phone manufactured by Fujitsu in 2007, FOMA F1100 with a slide-out keypad. F1100 features a 2.6-inch screen with 240x320 pixel resolution, a microSD card slot, a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. While these specs are seriously obsolete, I'm guessing that the new Fujitsu Android smartphone will only follow the design line of the old FOMA phone, and all the technical specs will be redone and improved.
The Japanese company will probably issue an official statement as soon as the merge with Toshiba will be over in late October this year. That will also include launch date, price and name of the new Android-based smartphone.