PC manufacturer Lenovo is using CES this week to show off the Google Android-powered Lephone smartphone, which will launch first in China before making its way to Europe and North America.
The Lephone uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, a 3.7-inch screen supporting a resolution of 800 x 400, and is just 0.47 inches thick. The phone also has 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth support, and utilizes a gesture-based navigation. The smartphone uses a customized version of Android, with integrated Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking features.
Additional hardware specifications weren't disclosed during CES, but the Lephone looks like a solid offering. To put it in perspective, the Lephone’s 11.-5-mm thickness is thinner than both the Apple iPhone (12.3 mm) and Motorola Droid (13.7 mm).
The Lenovo LePhone is expected to launch in China by June 2010 -- the company is unsure when it will be released in the United States.
The Dell Mini 3 smartphone will be offered in the United States through AT&T, but the Lenovo LePhone still doesn't have a U.S. provider. AT&T and Verizon Wireless are the two most likely candidates to pick up the Lephone, even though T-Mobile also has shown support for Android-powered devices in the past.
Dell, Asus, Acer, and Lenovo all have mobile phones they plan to release in 2010, with the trend expected to continue as other established PC powerhouses look for new revenue streams.
