Recently in wireless Category

Back in 2003 when I was at T-Mobile, I led countless meetings with some super smart execs at Dell to discuss how they could enter the wireless market.  It was clear at the time that what Dell really wanted to do was to manufacture and sell their own wireless smart-phone device which could run on multiple wireless networks.  At the time though, the mobile device O/S and software market wasn't ready for such a play.  Enter Android and the GPhone and now the market is more ready/capable to support such an offering.

Rumors has it that Dell and Google are set to make a big announcement at next month's 3GSM mobile conference in Barcelona.  Could it be the Dell GPhone?

Alley Insider notes

Will Google's first big push into the cellphone industry be with Dell? The search giant and computer maker are working together on a smartphone that they'll launch at next month's 3GSM mobile conference in Barcelona, MarketingWeek reports, citing "senior industry sources."

If true, the deal makes a lot of sense. Dell's Axim line of PDAs were gorgeous gadgets, but were crippled by lousy Windows Mobile software and the lack of a cellphone/mobile broadband connection. Last year, Dell hired former Motorola executive Ron Garriques, suggesting it would jump into the cellphone industry sooner than later. And while Google's Android mobile operating system is in its infancy, it's probably Dell's best option versus Windows Mobile, Symbian, or a custom OS.

And here's the Marketing Week piece:

Speculation is mounting that Google is plotting the launch of a mobile phone in partnership with computer giant Dell.

Senior industry sources claim the two companies will reveal their plans at next month's 3GSM telecoms conference in Barcelona, al-though Google insiders deny an announcement is due in the near future.

But the rumours will once again throw the spotlight on Google's mobile strategy, which has been the subject of much conjecture over the last year.

There had been widespread talk of Google launching its own handset, known as the "Gphone", to go up against Apple's iPhone, which launched in November last year.

But the world's largest search engine surprised the industry by announcing an operating system for mobile phones called Android. The software makes it easier for developers to create mobile applications that run on many different handsets.

Android, which will be available this year, will bring all of Google's online services to mobile users.

At present, mobile phones use a variety of operating systems to access the internet, including systems from Microsoft and London-based Symbian.

Marketing Week revealed last year that Dell was also planning a move into mobile phones after poaching Motorola executive Ron Garriques to run its new global consumer group (MW March 1, 2007).

Dell already produces personal digital assistants (PDAs) and strategy analytics director Neil Mawston says: "It makes sense for Dell to have a high-profile entry back into the market because its last effort with PDAs pretty much flopped."

What does the iPhone mean for AT&T?  Massive, unprecedented subscriber growth.

"Earnings at AT&T's wireless unit grew 44% to $1.88 billion, while revenue increased 16%. The unit added 2.7 million net new subscribers, a 14% increase from a year earlier and the most ever in a quarter by a U.S. wireless company. Subscribership stood at 70.1 million, as of Dec. 31, including 1.7 million subscribers from its acquisition of Dobson Communications in November. Total churn, or turnover rate, for postpaid customers decreased to 1.2% from 1.5%."  [read more here]

One must wonder why an upstart like T-Mobile didn't bet the farm on the iPhone vs. letting AT&T run away with it.