Dell Enters U.S. Smartphone Market
ROUND ROCK, Texas (
) --
Dell
(DELL) - Get Dell Technologies Inc. Class C Report
has unveiled its first-ever U.S. smartphone, the Aero, which faces stiff competition from
Apple
(AAPL) - Get Apple Inc. Report
and
Research In Motion
(RIMM)
.
With a 3.5-inch touchscreen and a 5-megapixel camera, the Android-powered Aero comes pretty late to the smartphone party. Apple has already sold more than 3 million of its new iPhone 4, and RIM recently unveiled its long-awaited
Dell is also debuts late to the
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which is crowded with great-selling offerings from
HTC
and
Motorola
(MOT)
.
|
Dell is nonetheless hoping that its Aero device will tap into the growing popularity of the Android OS. Analyst firm the NPD Group recently reported that
Android outpaced RIM's BlackBerry OS
as the most popular U.S. smartphone operating system, thanks in no small part to Motorola.
NPD listed Motorola's Droid as the most popular Android phone, explaining that the
(GOOG) - Get Alphabet Inc. Report
operating system accounted for 33% of all smartphones purchased during the second quarter.
Dell, which touts the Aero as one of the lightest Android phones on the market, said that the device is available for $99.99 with a two-year
AT&T
contract and $299.99 without.
The Aero also marks Dell's latest attempt to grow its product lineup. The computer maker, which recently launched its
Streak mini-tablet
in the U.S., is keen to extend its mobile device portfolio beyond laptops and netbooks.
Dell shares dipped 35 cents, or 2.93%, to $11.59 on Tuesday, outpacing the broader retreat in tech stocks that saw the Nasdaq fall 1.56%.
--Written by James Rogers in New York.
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