Acer today sent out a teaser invitation to Pocket-lint and others that confirms the company's plans to enter into smartphones. The message provides few clues but says Acer's CEO as well as its handheld chief will introduce a smartphone the evening of February 16th, or the start of the Mobile World Congress phone show in Barcelona.

The company best known for its netbooks and other budget PCs has provided few clues as to its smartphone developments, though most expect the first product or products to be heavily based on work from Acer's recent acquisition E-TEN. Before being purchased, E-TEN exclusively developed Windows Mobile smartphones with 3G, digital over-the-air TV and GPS.

Acer has publicly stated that it hopes to ship its first devices in the initial quarter of the year, which ends with the end of March.