Dell Inc reportedly has been developing small gadget like a pocket-sized gadget for tapping into the Internet, that will run on Google Inc’s Android software.
The early prototypes are described as slightly larger than Apple Inc’s iPod Touch, which is similar to the iPhone but without cellphone capabilities.
It was repoted also that ell may begin to sell the gadget by the end of this year, although the plan may be postponed or entirely revoked.
The development effort is one of the first experiments by a big-name PC maker in a nascent category of products known as mobile Internet devices, or MIDs, that are designed to fill a perceived gap between mobile phones and laptop computers.
Possibly Dell will use chips based on designed licensed from ARM Holdings PLC, but Dell spokesman said the company does not currently make any devices that use ARM-based chips.
Separately, people informed of the effort said Dell started developing the device last year, after the company aborted an attempt to compete with Apple in the music-player business. Some of the engineers working on the music player were then assigned to help develop the small mobile device.
Earlier this year, Dell appointed an executive, Ain McKendrick, to be in charge of mobile Internet devices at the company. The Dell spokesman said that as the general manager of mobile Internet devices at Dell, Mr. McKendrick’s role involves looking at future products in play for future consideration.
But another source said Dell has considered selling the product through cellular carriers — much as Dell, Hewlett-Packard Co. and other computer makers have begun marketing low-end portables called netbooks through cellular providers.
Dell has also been developing several Android-based smart phones that it plans to start selling later this year, the source said further.
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