Acer to release Android netbook

Electronics manufacturer Acer is to release a netbook running Google's Android operating system. Android will be shipped in the Aspire One netbook, a diminutive laptop with a 10-inch screen, which Acer plans to make available from the third quarter of 2009. Google's open source operating system was first developed for mobile phones. Last year saw the launch of an Android-powered mobile phone, the G1, developed by HTC. Read Andy Shaw's review of the Samsung NC10 netbook, Web User's Gold Award winner. Acer has not released any pricing details for Aspire One. However, it confirmed that it will be cheaper than models running the Windows operating system. "The Android operating system offers incredibly fast wireless connection to the internet; for this reason, Acer has decided to develop Android netbooks for added convenience to our customers," said Jim Wong, president of IT Products at Acer, explaining the company's decision to go with Google's operating system. China's Guangzhou Skytone Transmission Technologies is also producing its own Android netbook, and both companies will be racing to be the first to release the first Android-operated netbook.