Digitimes is reporting this week that global vendors are expected to begin selling netbooks and notebooks running the Google Chrome OS starting later this month.
Furthermore, Google will also launch its own Google-branded Chrome OS notebook, following a strategy similar to their launch of the Nexus One smartphone earlier this year.
The sources of the report are component makers in Taiwan.
Google’s branded device will be manufactured by Inventec with 70,000 expected to ship at launch. The Google Chrome OS notebook will run on “an ARM-based platform” and Google will not sell it through retail channels.
After Google’s initial launch, Acer and HP will launch Chrome OS notebooks in late December. ASUS is said to be watching the market before entering.
Result for: component makers
According to a new Digitimes report, HTC is preparing to launch an Android 3.0 tablet during the Q1 2011.
The latest speculation follows recent talk that Motorola is set to launch a 3.0 tablet, as well.
Digitimes cites Taiwanese component makers who place the launch early next year. The timeline makes sense as Google has promised 3.0 (Gingerbread) by the end of the year.
HTC had reportedly been set to release a tablet based on the Chrome OS.
Google and HTC have long had a close relationship, with the latter company building the first ever Android device, the T-Mobile G1, and more recently, flagships like the Nexus One and HTC EVO 4G.
Result for: component makers
AT&T has said this week that all equipment-supply constraints it has for its data network updates should end by August.
Says Operations CEO John Stankey: “It’s been a slow process to build capacity…Hopefully, it should be back to normal,” after the summer.
AT&T has been actively trying to improve its coverage in key markets in New York and California, but says a lack of cellular radio components and zoning issues has led to a very slow effort in the regions.
The constraint issue has “bottomed” says Stankey, and should improve from here.
For New York at least, dropped calls for consumers using 3G fell 9 percent, but in California, progress has “lagged.”
Supply issues have come mainly from Chinese component makers, which was compounded last month by the volcano eruption in Iceland that shut down flights for a number of days.
