Dell‘s first smartphone has just been introduced in the U.S. The Dell Aero is an inexpensive, consumer-oriented model running Google’s Android OS. It sports 3G, Wi-Fi, and a 5 megapixel camera.
It has a tablet shape with a 3.5-inch, 360 x 640 (nHD) pixel touchscreen. At 3.7 ounces. it is one of the lightest smartphones running the Android OS.
Like a good number of models running Google’s operating system, the Aero has an alternate user interface created by its manufacturer. Nevertheless, it comes with the standard suite of software, including Gmail, Google Maps, Google Search, YouTube, Google Talk and the Android Market.
As a consumer-oriented smartphone, it also has a range of social-networking software, like Facebook. Images taken with the 5 megapixel camera can be uploaded directly to Facebook as well as Flickr, Picasa and TwitPic, while movies can be sent to YouTube.
The Aero is able to connect to AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network, and it also has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a GPS receiver.
In addition, this model has a 5 megapixel camera and a microSD memory card slot, with a 2 GB card pre-installed
Aero Pricing and Availability
The Dell Aero sells for $100 with an AT&T contract, or $300 without.
Dell and Smartphones
Dell was once a important part of the PDA market offering devices running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system. But the company stopped offering its Axim Line when consumer interest moved to smartphones. But it is returning to this market with a pair of Android OS devices.
In addition to the Aero, this company recently launched the Dell Streak, which has some similarities but quite a few differences. Like today’s release, it is based on Google’s operating system and offered with AT&T service, but is a very high-end model a 5-inch, WVGA Touchscreen and a 1 GHz processor.
Neither one of these models is listed on AT&T’s website, and are instead being sold by Dell directly to the public.
