Acer branded smartphones to hit the market in 1Q09, company clarifies
Despite a bleak economic outlook, Acer remains optimistic about its growth opportunities for 2009. The company expects its notebook shipments to increase 15-20% in 2009 and its overall sales to grow 25-30% on year. Acer is also optimistic about the smartphone market, and despite some internal confusion, the company has officially stated that it will launch its first Acer-branded smartphone in the first quarter of next year.
Acer's smartphone development has been driven by its acquisition earlier this year of Taiwan smartphone maker E-Ten Information Systems. The acquisition was completed in September and market watchers expected Acer-branded handsets to hit the market by the end of this year. However, Acer representatives have said that a more reasonable launch timetable would be first-quarter 2009 initially in Western Europe and Russia, with other markets to follow later. Adding to the confusion, company chairman JT Wang recently said that the launch may come as late as the second half of 2009, as Acer it is still negotiating with telecommunication service providers worldwide.
Following Wang's comments, Acer clarified its position by officially stating that an Acer branded smartphone will be launched in first-quarter 2009, but did not supply details regarding specific regions.
Wang believes that the smartphone segment will me a major growth driver for the company over the next 3-5 years. Acer plans to increase staff in its smartphone division to 500 employees including 200 transfered from E-Ten's R&D division. According to company sources, moving forward Acer will take over the reins of smartphone development, while E-Ten will focus on real-time stock tracking devices, the market segment in which E-Ten built its first success back in the late 1990s.
Acer's smartphone development has been driven by its acquisition earlier this year of Taiwan smartphone maker E-Ten Information Systems. The acquisition was completed in September and market watchers expected Acer-branded handsets to hit the market by the end of this year. However, Acer representatives have said that a more reasonable launch timetable would be first-quarter 2009 initially in Western Europe and Russia, with other markets to follow later. Adding to the confusion, company chairman JT Wang recently said that the launch may come as late as the second half of 2009, as Acer it is still negotiating with telecommunication service providers worldwide.
Following Wang's comments, Acer clarified its position by officially stating that an Acer branded smartphone will be launched in first-quarter 2009, but did not supply details regarding specific regions.
Wang believes that the smartphone segment will me a major growth driver for the company over the next 3-5 years. Acer plans to increase staff in its smartphone division to 500 employees including 200 transfered from E-Ten's R&D division. According to company sources, moving forward Acer will take over the reins of smartphone development, while E-Ten will focus on real-time stock tracking devices, the market segment in which E-Ten built its first success back in the late 1990s.
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