Acer introduced its first family of smartphones, Tempo, about a month ago. It will include four Windows Mobile handsets: the M900, F900, X960 and DX900. Now comes word that the world's third largest PC maker also has smartphones built on Google's Android platform in the works. These devices may even ship before the end of the year.

Acer's Smart Handheld Business Group leader Aymar de Lencquesaing said in a television interview recently, "We have not made any formal announcement of an Android- based device, although it's likely that we'll have one in 2009. We intend to have devices that will take advantage of multiple platforms."

Rumor has it Acer's got at leat two Android-run smartphones in the offing for 2009. One is thought to be called the Acer A1. This model is expected to ship this fall.

It is said that Taiwanese original equipment manufacturers Compal and Arima are building Acer's new mobile products.