Are there more than 3 to 4 "top carriers" total?

While Dell have a good brand with consumers, it's very much around 'the cheapest big brand you can get' - i.e. people don't choose Dell machines because they prefer Dell to Sony or Apple, but because they are cheaper.

When it comes to phones, on the other hand, you're not talking price differences in hundreds of dollars anymore. The difference between a Sagem and a Sony is very small - if not actually nothing for the consumer.

add Dell to the "me too!" Apple bandwagon...

Malax - yes, globally there are still a lot of carriers - the Chinese market, for one, is huge.

Dell is talking to carriers to see what their needs are for a device? Because what the carriers need in a device will be totally in line with what consumers need. Their market is the carriers, not the consumers.

This should work out really well and I'm sure it will result in a product that exemplifies all of Dell's product innovation.

So Dell can get to where Apple's already been three years ago? Oh and how well is Android gonna work with Windows? Odds are decently but unless Dell decides to develop a desktop class version of Android you're still gonna be working with a fruit salad of systems.

Dell, and others for that matter, will always be handicapped in large part by the fact that they don't create the whole solution. Whatever Dell creates, it will be dependent on "someone" else's OS. Whether Android or MS Mobile, Dell has to work with what they get from these developers.

As much flack as Apple gets for its prices and the fact that it can't work with other (and cheaper) hardware, it more than compensates with delivering the complete package.

The iPod would not be what it is without iTunes. The iPhone wouldn't be anywhere close to as popular as it is without the App Store. And why would any of us pay for Apple hardware if we didn't have that wonderful Mac OS? It all works together so well that it creates its own success...and that's something Dell nor Microsoft will ever be able to duplicate, much less surpass.

Oh and how well is Android gonna work with Windows? Odds are decently but unless Dell decides to develop a desktop class version of Android you're still gonna be working with a fruit salad of systems.

Why would you need a desktop version of Android?

And maybe you didn't notice it, but many an iPhone user are also - gasp - Windows users, and they seem to survive with that fruit salad of systems.

Why would Dell be talking to carriers to find out "what their needs are". Shouldn't they be talking to consumers about that, then perhaps working with carriers to make/produce/deliver that?

Well, Apple talks to ATT about their needs. Why do you think you've got restrictions on apps that use the data plan and stuff.

Or doesn't that count?