Acer Android devices

In addition to working on a smartphone running on the Android operating system due for a fall release, Acer is also working on a number of other Android devices, according to a Wednesday report. The executive noted that the company was trying out Android on many "different solutions" but stopped short of committing to any particular device types, including Acer's defining netbook line.

"The entire industry is looking at Android," said Acer president and CEO Gianfranco Lanci at a first-quarter investor's conference in Taipei on Wednesday. "I think it's too early to say if we're going to see Android on a netbook in the near future," he continued, again downplaying chances of an Acer netbook running Android.

Lanci has previously said an Android-powered smartphone makes a lot more sense than an Android netbook. He also believes Android is "very, very good for communication" and browsing the web.

The T-Mobile G1, the first smartphone with Google's Android operating system made by HTC, has been a sales success, and there are more handsets coming, including the G1 successor. Samsung has recently outed its i7500 Android cellphone, and Taiwan's Far EasTone mobile network operator will soon release two such handsets.

Netbooks are still virgin territory for Android, though MSI and Averatec reported to bring out such products.

By Electronista Staff