Dell's first smartphone to launch in China

The new handset is called the Dell Mini 3 and will be sold in China in a deal with China Mobile and in Brazil via the Claro network. It is due in store by late November in China and before the end of the year in December.

The company said that relationships with other mobile networks, including Vodafone in the UK, could see it roll out elsewhere.

Earlier this year Dell launched the first 3G-enabled netbook in China, quickly becoming the leading seller throughout the country.

Ron Garriques, president of the Dell Global Consumer Group, said: "Our entry into the smartphone category is a logical extension of Dell's consumer product evolution over the past two years.

"We are developing smaller and smarter mobile products that enable our customers to take their internet experience out of the home and do the things they want to do whenever and wherever they want."

The news comes after Apple was said to have signed a three-year contract with China Unicom to sell its 3G iPhone after a lengthy battle to introduce the phone in China. Recent reports suggest that the iPhone may go on sale next month.