Dell to build smartphone for Chinese telco

Dell has reportedly inked a deal to build a smartphone for carrier China Mobile.

Multiple reports have cited sources within the Chinese firm as confirming that the deal will allow China Mobile to offer a device from Dell known as the Mini3i.

While no details on the specifications of the handset were given, the device will reportedly use China Mobile's online service to download music and software.

Apple had also been reported to be in talks with mobile carriers in China, though the company has since denied those reports.

News of the deal is the latest in what has been an ongoing story on Dell's venture into the smartphone market.

Early this year, reports surface that the company was gearing up for the launch of a smartphone in February. Soon after the story surfaced, however, new reports indicated that Dell decided to pull the proposed handsets after prospective carriers showed little interest in either of the two designs.

By July, new reports surfaced that the company was putting the finishing touches on a new handheld device powered by Google's Android operating system.