Acer confirms Android handset for 2009

An Android-based Acer smartphone is in the pipeline to be released sometime in 2009, the company confirmed this week.

Aymar de Lencquesaing, head of mobile at Taiwan-based OC maker said an handset powered by Google’s open source OS is ‘likely’ to be unveiled sometime this year.

“We have not made any formal announcement of an Android-based device, although it’s likely that we’ll have one in 2009,” de Lencquesaing said.

“We intend to have devices that will take advantage of multiple platforms,” he added.

According to unconfirmed reports, Acer is currently developing two Android phones, with the first, the Acer A1, scheduled for release this autumn.

Details on the A1 are unknown, expect that it will include a touch-screen and highly capable web browser.

The second handset is expected to be unveiled in the fourth quarter, in time for a seasonal sales push.

Acer plans to release at least ten mobile handsets during 2009, most of which will be based on the Windows mobile operating system.