Computer-maker Dell could launch its first ever smartphone this week as part of China Mobile’s ‘OPhone’ range of TD-SCDMA-based devices. According to Chinese news portal 163.com, the new Dell device is called the ‘mini3i’ and based on China Mobile’s OMS (Open Mobile System), the operator’s own Android-based mobile platform. China Mobile – the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers – will reportedly launch the device “in the middle of this month,” which suggests it could be launched as early as this week. The operator is also expected to launch ‘OPhones’ soon from Lenovo and Dopod (the latter the brand used by Taiwan’s HTC in China). Mobile Crunch reports that all devices in the OPhone range will be based on China Mobile’s homegrown 3G standard, TD-SCDMA, which means they will not work with 3G networks outside of China.

Rumours of a Dell smartphone have been circulating since the beginning of the year; at one stage the firm was expected to unveil its first devices at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in February, but nothing materialised. Ronald Garriques, president of Dell’s consumer division, told shareholders and analysts at the company’s annual financial presentation last month that Dell was working with “the top three to four” mobile operators to “see what their needs are.” He added that Dell is developing smartphone products for the Asian, European and the US markets. Dell joins a host of rival PC-makers that are understood to be planning a move into smartphones, including Asustek, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo. Another rival, Acer, launched its first smartphones in February.