E-TEN acquired by Acer

E-TEN to be acquired by Acer. E-TEN has released a number of hugely successful Pocket PC phones that featured combinations of GPRS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 3.5G GSM functionality each enhanced by exclusive in-house developed software applications. And recently Acer announced that it has entered into an agreement to buy E-TEN Information Systems Co. Ltd. Turns out, Acer wants to dabble in the mobile world - a world that's more mobile than their current expertise in notebooks would allow.

Whether it's mobile phones or mobile computing (two markets that are on a head-on collision course over the next few years, by the way), Acer looks positioned really take a bit out of the "mobile market." After buying up Gateway and Packard Bell, the company's acquisition of E-ten should solidify their stance as a true mobile-player.

"This strategic transaction is yet another important milestone in Acer's long history of innovation," said J.T. Wang, Chairman and CEO of Acer Inc. "The acquisition of E-TEN increases Acer's global footprint by giving us a strong and highly credible presence in the mobility segment."

"The worldwide smart phone market is estimated to grow by more than 30% by 2011," added Gianfranco Lanci, President of Acer Inc. "Acer will enhance the competitiveness in the ultra mobile segment, by combining PC and communication technologies".

And it doesn't hurt that E-ten has a reputation for making some powerful Windows Mobile smarphones. We've been impressed by E-ten's lineup of Glofish handsets, and we can't wait to see what the new partnership (and presumably larger R&D bankroll) will do for E-ten's high-end offerings. We expect the acquisition to close during Q3 2008.

(via Acer Press Release)