ARN

BenQ plans Android smartphones, netbooks for 2010

The company joins many others at Computex Taipei with Android products or plans

Taiwanese consumer electronics maker BenQ plans to launch a smartphone and a netbook running Google's Android operating system next year, a company representative confirmed Thursday.

The announcement adds BenQ to a growing list of companies either making or planning smartphones and mini-laptops running Android software instead of Microsoft Windows offerings.

Android is a smartphone operating system developed by Google that is meant to make communications and Web browsing easy, especially on Google sites such as Gmail and Google Maps. The majority of netbooks today use Windows XP.

BenQ currently sells netbooks under the name Joybook Lite running Microsoft Windows XP, mobile phones with the Symbian OS and a mobile Internet device with a Linux OS.

A few years ago, the company was a contender in the worldwide mobile phone industry but its acquisition of Siemens' mobile phone division went sour over mounting losses and lost market share.

The company hopes to market an Android-based smartphone next year, a BenQ representative said, as it attempts to rebuild its name in mobile phones. A netbook based on Android is also in the works, but its makeup hasn't yet been decided.

Most mini-laptops shown at Computex Taipei running Android use microprocessors from Arm Holdings, usually in chipsets from companies such as Qualcomm, Texas Instruments or Freescale Semiconductor.

But Acer displayed a version of its Aspire One netbook with an Intel Atom microprocessor that also ran Android. Acer plans to ship that device in the third quarter.

Mini-laptops with Android from several other companies have been seen at Computex, including from Elitegroup Computer Systems, Inventec, Asustek Computer subsidiary Pegatron and an Android Eee PC from Asustek.

Come socialise with us! Facebook | LinkedIn

More about: Acer, Asustek, Asustek Computer, BenQ, Computex, Google, Intel, Inventec, Linux, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Siemens, Symbian, Texas Instruments
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the ARN comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Android, Android netbooks, BenQ, computex, netbooks, smartphones, taiwan
ARN Directory | Distributors relevant to this article
Achieva Technology Australia , Aquion , ASI Solutions , Australasian PC Distributors (APCD) , Avnet Technology Solutions , Bluechip Infotech , Compucon Computers , Dicker Data , Express Data , Express Online , ICT Distribution , Impact Systems Technology , Ingram Micro Australia , Leader Computers , Leading Pacific Australia , MPA Systems , Multimedia Technology , NewLease , Simms International (For Simms International please see Express Online) , Synnex Australia , The IPL Group , Topstar Computer International , Westan , XiT Distribution , Xpress I.T.
ARN Directory | Vendors relevant to this article
BenQ
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to ARN's news, research and invitation only events.
ARN Distributor Directory
Find distributors by name | vendor | location
Channel Deals
/deals/aca-pacific/392_kodak-i2000-series-scanner-add-a-smart-touch-t
ACA Pacific

Kodak i2000 Series Scanner - Add a Smart Touch to your office.

More details »
ARN Vendor Directory
Find vendors by name | category

iAsset is a channel management ecosystem that automates all major aspects of the entire sales,marketing and service process, including data tracking, integrated learning, knowledge management and product lifecycle management.