Dell smart phone debuts in China

ROUND ROCK (AP/KXAN) - Dell Inc. is jumping into the "smart" phone market this month in a deal with China Mobile, the country's biggest wireless carrier.

The Dell Mini 3 is a touch-screen phone that uses Google Inc.'s Android software. Dell said it will also be available in Brazil later this year.

Friday's announcement ends more than two years' denial from Dell that they were developing a mobile phone.

Sinking computer prices and the economic downturn have made the PC business less profitable, and Dell has been looking for ways to expand.

China Mobile Ltd. has 500 million wireless customers, but only a fraction have smart phones. Dell's Mini 3 could help keep customers from switching to the smaller China Unicom Ltd., the only carrier in China to offer Apple Inc.'s iPhone.