Confirmed: MS Smartphone at ALDI soon
Rumors confirmed: ALDI to sell Medion branded Microsoft smartphone
March 24, 2004 [MS Smartphone]
Previously we were reporting that ALDI - the biggest chain of retail shops in Europe (with shops among others in UK, Germany and France) - will be selling Microsoft smartphones. This report was based on hacking of the ROM upgrade for Orange SPV e200 (click here for more about this hacking).
Now we have further hints (proofs) that it will happen: Medion - brand under which ALDI sells electronics equipment, is about to sell "Qtek 8060" smartphone:
... that is hardware compatible with Orange SPV e200. Medion is one of top brands among PDAs sold in Europe - just because ALDIґs distribution channels are vast - many thousands of retail shops. Although ALDI shops are usually not frequented by people who earn above average, they are however extremely popular, due to low prices, among all other people with average and below average earnings. ALDI therefore can sell many times more Microsoft smartphones than such carriers/operators like Orange or AT&T Wireless ever did...
Medion is purchasing electronics equipment in Asia (previousy for example at Mitac) and sells it under its own brand. Medion's Pocket PC devices with GPS and navigation software were very popular lately for example...
http://msmobiles.com/news.php/2372.html