HP is reportedly returning to the smartphone market in the near future with large screen handsets (phablets) powered by Android.
According to a report published by tech blog: The Information, HP is looking at launching Android powered smartphones with screen sizes between six to seven inches in emerging markets such as India, China and Phillipines. The pricing is expected to be under $250 in order to compete with local vendors.
HP stepped out of the smartphone market after the failed launch of devices such as Pre 3 and Veer 4G based on webOS in 2011. CEO Meg Whitman had admitted in a video interview with Fox, that the company is "working on this" and that HP "ultimately has to offer a smartphone" because it feels that such a product is the first computer-like device a person buys in many countries. In July, a director of the company also mentioned about HP's plans to make a comeback but failed to provide a timeline for the same.
The rumoured pricing and launch markets suggest that HP might be looking to emulate Lenovo's smartphone strategy of launching low-cost handsets based on MediaTek chipsets in order to gain marketshare rapidly.
Source: The Information | Image via HP
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