Acer to enter smartphone market

Acer, the world’s third largest PC manufacturer, plans to release a range of smartphones in the first quarter of 2009.

The company will join the ranks of Research in Motion, HTC, Apple. and Asus – companies which have all launched own-brand smartphones, and are profiting from smartphones entering the mainstream, rather than being limited to business customers.

Acer will leverage its global distribution channels and market share in the PC market as a significant driver for smartphone sales.

Jim Wong, senior corporate vice president at Acer, said the company’s smartphones will first be shipped to Western Europe and Russia,

Analysts predict that shipments to Asian markets including Taiwan and Hong Kong are likely to begin later in 2009, with a US release unlikely because Asus smartphones have failed to catch on the in US market.

Wong added that 500 new employees will be appointed to Acer’s handset business by the end of the year.