Dell engineers are developing a pocket-sized, Internet-connected device that will use the Google-backed Android mobile operating system, according to The Wall Street Journal. The newspaper, citing “people familiar with the company’s plans,” said two people who have seen prototypes described the new product as similar to the iPhone but without cell-phone functionalities. Dell is expected to release the device later this near, the paper reported, although there is also a possibility the product might not be released. ‘Entirely, Absolutely’ Plausible The report also speculated that Dell might sell this mobile Internet device through carriers, such as Verizon Wireless or AT&T, which would dovetail with reports that the company is also developing Android-based smartphones. Dell hasn’t commented on the report, which also indicated the device is likely to use the ARM processors found in a variety of mobile devices — but not in any products currently offered by Dell. Avi Greengart, an analyst with industry research firm Current Analysis, said it is “entirely,

absolutely” plausible that Dell would be working on such a device. He noted that the company has said it would offer products from “two inches to 20,” with the first size approximately matching the new device. “There’s no question they intend to play in this space,” Greengart said. “The only question is how and when.” He noted that Dell’s steps toward developing a viable line of mobile devices “so far have not been competitive,” such as its efforts in MP3 players. There have also been earlier reports, Greengart said, that Dell had developed — and then not released — a line of Windows Mobile smartphones. Growing Momentum for Android The Journal mentioned that, at one point, Dell had stopped work on its development of a music player to compete with Apple’s iPods, and then reassigned those engineers to work on this new device. The company’s…

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Android-Based Mobile Device May Be Coming From Dell