Acer to Install Both Android and Windows onto Netbooks

Acer, the largest producer of netbooks in the world, plans to install two operating system onto future netbooks that feature dual-core microprocessors. According to the sources close to the company, installation of both Google Android and Microsoft Windows brings a lot of value for the consumers.

“Since adopting Google's operating system does not cost much, but will provide more efficiency to its consumers, the strategy is expected to stimulate demand,” a source from Acer is reported to have said in an interview with DigiTimes web-site.

Google Android operating system boots instantly and allows to do basic things that are typical for a netbook, including checking e-mail, browsing the Internet and so on. Microsoft Windows system allows to run productivity applications, such as Word or Excel.

Scott Lin, the president of Acer, said that the company planned to ship 30 million notebooks and 10 million netbooks in 2010. Acer is confident of achieving the goal and will continue its lead in the netbook market

Android to Become No. 2 Worldwide Mobile Operating System in 2010 and Challenge Symbian by 2014

The worldwide mobile operating system (OS) market will be dominated by Symbian and Android, as the two OSs will account for 59.8% of mobile OS sales by 2014, according to Gartner. Symbian will remain at the top of Gartner's worldwide OS ranking due to Nokia's volume and the push into more mass market price points. But by the end of 2014, the No. 1 spot will be contested with Android, which will be at a very similar share level.

"The worldwide mobile OS market is dominated by four players: Symbian, Android, Research In Motion and iOS. Launches of updated operating systems - such as Apple iOS 4, BlackBerry OS 6, Symbian 3 and Symbian 4, and Windows Phone 7 - will help maintain strong growth in smartphones in 2H 2010 and 2011 and spur innovation. However, we believe that market share in the OS space will consolidate around a few key OS providers that have the most support from CSPs and developers and strong brand awareness with consumer and enterprise customers," said Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst at Gartner

Communication service providers' (CSPs') marketing and vendor support for Android-based smartphones will drive the platform to become the second-largest platform, following Symbian, by year-end 2010. This is almost two years earlier than Gartner predicted a year ago.