DigiTimes, source of some rather dubious stories coming from their so-called “industry sources” has done it again – they’re now saying that, according to their usual “industry sources” (here we go again!), Acer is expected to focus around 50% of its efforts in 2010 towards manufacturing Android smartphones, in what must be a blow to the Windows Mobile platform, a platform for which Acer has almost exclusively focused on to date. Not what Microsoft wants to hear, especially with the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 so close on the horizon!
Acer’s first Android smartphone, called the A1, is expected towards the end of the year. Let’s see how it fares – if it came with the stock Android without any customisations, I’d say it won’t do well at all. If it at least came with some enhancements to the core Android operating system like what HTC and Motorola has done with Sense UI and MotoBlur respectively, Acer’s probably got a chance of making it. So, Acer becomes the second big name manufacturer to switch some of their allegiance to Android, after HTC.
Rumoured specifications of the A1, according to Gizmodo Australia:
- Processor: Qualcomm 8250 768 MHz Qualcomm 8250 768 MHz
- Operating System: Android 2.0 (Donut)
- Memory: ROM: 512 MB / RAM: 256 MB ROM
- Display: 3.5-inch touch-sensitive screen with WVGA resolution
- Network: HSPA/WCDMA: 850, 1900, 2100 MHz – Up to 2 Mbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz Quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- (Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent)
- GPS: Internal GPS antenna
- Connectivity: Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets. Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi ®: IEEE 802.11 b / g, 3.5 mm audio jack 3.5 mm audio jack
- Camera: 5.0 megapixel colour camera with auto focus
- Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. Capacity: 1350 mAh, Talk time: Up to 300 minutes Talk time: Up to 300 minutes, Standby time: Up to 400 hours. (The above are subject to network and phone usage)
- Expansion Slot: microSD ™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
- Dimensions (LxWxT): 115 x 62.5 x 12.5 mm 115 x 62.5 x 12.5 mm
- Weight: 135 grams with battery 135 grams with battery
I think the reference to “Donut” may be a little misleading, as Android 1.6 is now called the “Donut” update, and it has only recently begun rolling out to T-Mobile G1 (the first Android device) in the US, so unless development is happening in parallel, version 2.0, codenamed “Eclair” may not make an appearance for some time yet. Unless that “Donut” reference is right, and the A1 will ship with Android 1.6, which means that it is more likely to meet its anticipated availability in the fourth quarter of this year.
SINCE acer been took over golffish pda mobile company,i hope acer will come out more pda phone with cheaper price,like the acer notebook pricing..
to benefit pda user…
[Reply]
Da Alpha Dog Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 12:23 am
@andy, strangely, Acer’s handset pricing does not reflect its pricing in the netbook segment. Their handsets are more expensive, for the same specifications, compared to other manufacturers. Perhaps their cost is higher.
[Reply]