Computer-maker Dell’s much-touted entry into the smartphone market may come via a tie-up with China Mobile, according to various news reports this week. IDG, citing industry analysts, reports that Dell and China Mobile are close to reaching a deal that will see the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers launch one or two Dell smartphones by year-end. Dell is reportedly one of a number of vendors developing handsets that will support China Mobile’s new Open Mobile System (OMS), a platform based on Google’s Android compatible with TD-SCDMA, China’s homegrown 3G standard. Dell is also understood to be launching a TD-SCDMA netbook in China this week. However, neither Dell nor China Mobile have commented on the smartphone story.

According to a separate Reuters report, Dell is working on its handsets with Chi Mei Communications, a subsidiary of Taiwan electronics giant Hon Hai, while China-based software maker Red Office is designing the smartphones’ operating system. Dell has yet to publicly announce its entry into smartphones, despite widespread rumours since the beginning of the year. Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu wrote in a research note last month that Dell had “gone back to the drawing board” with its smartphone plan after reportedly failing to generate sufficient interest from operators with an early prototype.