Cebit 07: Ultra-mobiles not ready for mass market, says Acer

Ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) will not be ready for a mass market for at least 18 months, according to Acer president Gianfranco Lanci.

The company, which is the number one notebook vendor in Europe, has yet to offer a UMPC, even though it was an early enthusiast for tablets. Lanci said three years ago that it would be supporting the development of tablets, but his enthusiasm seems to have waned.

One reason, he said, is that ultra-mobiles need a longer battery life. “You need a machine that lasts as long as a mobile phones – 12 to 15 hours,” he said.

Ultra-mobiles also need better graphics to be able to do anything more than surf MSN; and connectivity, or rather the cost of connectivity, will have to improve, he added.

“We have fast wireless links – UMTS, HSDPA – but no-one is going to use them at the prices being charged. I heard of one company offering TV for €1 a day, but if you add that cost up over a year it is a lot of money. We need affordable connectivity.”

Acer is splitting itself into consumer and enterprise divisions to be in a better position to tackle the corporate market. Acer’s Aspire brand will continue in the shops, but PCs will be sold to corporates under the Veriton brand.