TAIPEI – Acer is planning to launch a second-generation Chromebook in mid-October and hopes the cloud-based device will replace its netbook product line which is expected to soon be phased out of the market.
According to a DigiTimes newswire report, Acer and Samsung, which also recently-announced a second-generation Chromebook, are the only two major brand players aggressively promoting Chromebook-related products, promoted by Google.
Industry sources told DigiTimes the advent of Microsoft’s new Surface tablets are part of the reasoning that has prompted Acer to push second-gen Chromebook products, despite the miserable marketplace failure of its first-generation Chromebook.
Lenovo is also reportedly developing second-generation Chromebook products. Acer’s 11.6-inch Chromebook has already entered mass production with monthly shipments expected to reach as high as 200,000 units.
Asia
Acer has admitted its smartphone business will remain unprofitable until next year, but it aims to grow it by pursuing more deals with Chinese telecom carriers.
The Taipei-based company is in talks with Chinese carrier China Unicom that would see it offer Acer-brand smartphones.
Earlier this year Acer inked a deal to launch a smartphone through China Mobile, the world’s largest telecom carrier by subscribers.With one billion mobile phone users, according to research firm IDC, China is set to overtake the US as the world’s largest smartphone market, accounting for 27 percent of global shipments this year, compared with 18 percent for the US.
