Dell working on Android smartphone?

Dredging up memories of flopped rumors from days gone by, Michael Dell, the founder of the computer manufacturer that bears his namesake, has hinted at the possibility that Dell is entering the handset business. More specifically, Dell could be poised to take a swing at the smartphone segment that fellow computer-maker Apple has so successfully tapped.

In response to an interview question recently posed by GigaOm’s Om Malik, in regards to whether Dell would be working Android or Symbian, Dell said his company “is kind of working on that.”

Dell’s intimation that an Android- or Symbian-powered handset is in the product pipeline is reminiscent of rumors that had Dell working with Google to launch and Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress 2008. It’s good practice to take any speculation on the mobile space with a heaping helping of salt. But Mr. Dell’s latest interview seems to give some credence to previous rumors, as well as renewed speculation that an Android handset from Dell is a distinct possibility. Were previous rumors simply off-base as far as Dell and Google launching hardware at Mobile World Congress 2008? Were those rumors rooted in Dell’s legitimate involvement with Android?

Of course, Dell isn’t going to elaborate on their possible smartphone plans at the moment. And, Dell warns that we shouldn’t expect any such developments or announcements in the near future. Good advice, but definitely CEO-boilerplate.

[Via: GigaOm]