Specifications are also unknown, though Dell has usually embraced Windows Mobile-based devices, both through its discontinued PDA-only Axim devices as well as its current catalog of third-party phones that favors the Microsoft platform.

Dell has publicly tried to play down rumors of its launching a phone but has stopped short of openly denying the claims, which have been fueled in part by its hiring a former Motorola cellphone chief to head up its home product business.

Wu suggests that a smartphone would likely be introduced to mitigate the effect of smartphones siphoning away notebook users but warns that Dell would have to make its effort truly distinctive to have a realistic chance at gaining significant market share. The two fastest-rising competitors in smartphones, Apple and RIM, build both unique hardware and software where less influential firms like HTC, iMate, Motorola and Palm are currently building devices based on device-independent operating systems like Windows Mobile and now Google's Android. Palm's attention-getting Pre uses the