Dell Aims to Sell Streak Tablet in China
Dell (DELL), which late last year chose China to launch the first sales of its Mini 3i smartphone, now hopes to offer its new Streak tablet computer in the country as well. The move would build Dell’s focus on emerging markets like China and India while also extending the reach of its mobile products, which mark a new direction for the PC maker.
Dell hopes to launch the five-inch Streak in China, said Amit Midha, the company’s president for Greater China, Tuesday. He didn’t give a time frame for when the device will be available. The company launched the tablet in the U.K. this month and has said it plans a U.S. launch later this summer.
The Streak has 3G connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but it can be bought without a wireless service contract for 399 pounds ($589) from O2 in the U.K., according O2’s website.
The Streak, which uses Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system, would face a market in China already crowded by small-screen devices sold at Chinese gadget bazaars. But those devices, some of which are knock-offs of Apple’s (AAPL) iPad, rarely have a smooth control interface or a wide range of content such as games and applications for download.
