Analyst: Dell to launch smartphone soon

Analysts are once again clamoring for Dell to launch a smartphone soon. Strategy Analytics' director of wireless device strategies Neil Mawston told MacWorld the development of smartphones would be a logical step for Dell to expand its presence in the mobile market. Mawston pointed out that Apple, HP and Toshiba are already in the business of smartphones and PDAs, so the competitive threat and market itself are just too big to ignore. While the rumor that claimed Dell would launch a Google Android-powered smartphone at Mobile World Congress last month never came to fruition, the company could still launch such a device or ink a deal with Microsoft for Windows Mobile. Mawston also noted that Dell needs to replace its Axim PDAs, which it killed off last year.

According to a recent report from ABI Research, one in three phones sold in 2013 will be a smartphone. Smartphones will increase from the 10 percent market share they have now to 31 percent market share in five years, according to the report.

For more on Dell's rumored smartphone plans:
- read this article from MacWorld