Hey, Apple
Even Apple's iPhone partner AT&T
We have known about Dell's plans to build smartphones for some time, and the company announced an Android-based phone in China this summer. So it's no surprise to see an Android with Dell's logo stamped on its forehead. But AT&T has not shown much of a desire to sell Android phones, retrenching behind the exclusive iPhone deal instead. That's why I'm flabbergasted by Dell's choice of network partner.
Then again, AT&T did recently allow eBay's
AT&T's exclusive deal with Apple is set to expire as early as next year, and you might soon be able to buy iPhones from competing network providers like T-Mobile or Verizon
The flood of Androids has started in earnest and won't let up anytime soon. Google expects to have at least a dozen models on the market by the end of the year, which leaves plenty more announcements in the coming months. In three years, IT research firm Gartner believes that the plethora of Androids will surpass Apple's single-phone business model in worldwide unit sales.
And the first batch of dominoes is falling today.