Dell's been touting the world's lightest Android phone since March, and today the little guy is officially hits the scene for $100 with a 2-year AT&T contract. Too bad its operating system is over a year behind.
The Aero used to be touted as the lightest Android phone yet, but has since been downgraded to "one of the lightest." Regardless of semantics my hands-on earlier this year there's no question that it's less heavy than most handsets out there.
Too bad it's running Android 1.5, then, an operating system that's been around since April 2009. And that there's no word yet on when—or if—we can expect a Froyo update.
It's especially a pity since there are genuinely some things here to like: 5MP camera with 8x zoom, up to 32GB microSD memory. Even the 624Mhz processor, while not as snazzy as a 1GHz Snapdragon, is nothing to be ashamed of in a $100 phone.
And that's really the crux of it: AT&T's got the $200 Samsung Captivate for anyone who wants a serious Android phone. And it's great that there's now an Android option at a lower price point. But if Dell could launch the Streak with Android 1.6, you'd hope they could have managed at least the same for their other smartphone.
Dell Creates Freedom, Style and Performance to Explore Life's Biggest Moments on New 3.5-Inch Android Smartphone
NEWS:
· Dell's first U.S. smartphone, the Dell Aero, is available today in a polished graphite finish at Dell.com/mobile, by phone at 1-800-308-DELL, and coming soon to www.wireless.att.com. Dell Chat representatives are standing by 24 x 7 to answer Dell Aero related questions.
· The Dell Aero is available for $99.99 with new AT&T* two-year contract†, and $299.99 without.FREEDOM IS CALLING
Dell Aero, one of the lightest multi-touch 3.5-inch Google Android-based smartphones in the U.S., is designed to deliver a powerful, flexible, and entertaining experience in a stylish and compact design. Packed with today's popular features, the Dell Aero will ship with Quick Office, Facebook with integrated calendar and contacts, Twitter and additional applications by Google, including YouTube and Android Market.With AT&T's Wi-Fi network, and the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, today's social media mavens can simultaneously make voice calls and Tweet friends, post Facebook updates, share pictures or browse the Web. AT&T has the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots.*
Dell is a member of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a group of technology and mobile companies working to accelerate innovation in mobility. Together, the OHA created Android, the first complete, open and free mobile platform to provide people a rich, inexpensive and exceptional mobile experience.
QUOTES:
"The Dell Aero is built with a focus on style and performance to help people find new ways to connect with friends and express themselves socially supported by the nation's fastest mobile broadband network." – Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication SolutionsDELL AERO FEATURES:
· One of the lightest Android smartphones in the U.S., on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network
· Experience YouTube and other Flash content in nHD
· 5-megapixel camera with 8x zoom, flash, dedicated camera key and advanced shooting and editing capabilities
· Connect with friends with one-touch access to social networks
· Multi-task with GPS, plus hands-free conversations
· Wi-Fi access at more than 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots with qualifying AT&T service plan
DELL AERO SPECIFICATIONS:
· Android platform complete with Android Market and Dell user interface enhancements
· 3.5-inch (640 x 360p) capacitive multi-touch display with pinch-to-zoom functionality
· Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
· Tri-Band UMTS/HSDPA (850/1900/2100 MHz)
· WiFi + Bluetooth
· 2 GB* on board user accessible Micro SD with expandable memory available up to 32 GB*
· Full HTML Browser with Adobe Flashlite
· GPS/A-GPS navigation
· POP, IMAP, Webmail and Microsoft Active Sync E-mailFollow conversations in the blogosphere: #DellAero