Acer to launch Android phone this year

Electronics firm signs up to Open Handset Alliance

Acer will launch an Android-based smartphone in the coming months

Consumer electronics firm Acer has signed up to the Open Handset Alliance and will be launching an Android-based smartphone by the end of the year.

Google's open-source mobile platform has garnered support from many players in the industry, and the Open Handset Alliance now has over 40 members including mobile operators, handset manufacturers, software companies and semi-conductor firms.

Although development progress has been slow, with only two Android devices now available and several others due for release in the coming months, the operating system is starting to gain traction

This has been spurred by the recent release of the Android 1.5 platform, also known as Cupcake, and the launch of the second Android developer competition by Google.

Acer only recently joined the mobile market, following its acquisition of E-Ten in 2008, with the launch of four new smartphones based on Windows Mobile.

No other details on Acer's Android-based device are available yet, but more information should be forthcoming soon.