Dell has partnered with Chinese search engine Baidu to develop tablet computers and mobile handsets, targeting the Chinese market currently dominated by Apple and Lenovo devices.
Though Dell declined to give a timeline for the launch of the devices, but local media reports suggest that it may be as early as November.
Dell will develop tablets and smartphones for the newly-announced forked version of Google’s Android mobile operating system, called Baidu Yi.
Baidu Yi helps developers create mobile apps integrated with Baidu’s existing products, including the company’s music, e-reading and mapping services.
According to Reuters, Dell has already shown some interest in becoming a hardware partner for future Yi devices.
The deal could revive Dell’s flagging tablet business in China, which is home to more than 900 million mobile phone subscribers.
Dell discontinued its Streak 5 tablet is a five-inch Android-based tablet in the US last month.
According to CNZZ.com, an analytical web research site, Baidu dominates China’s search engine market, with an 80% share of all user Internet searches. The company’s search engine is also installed in a number of mobile phones.
In April, the company reported that its search engine had been installed on 80% of China’s Android phones.
