Acer is planning to enter the Chinese smartphone market this 2009 or in 2010 in time for the introduction of China's own 3G networks, says a PCWorld report citing company sources.

Acer

PCWorld reports that Acer is now talking with China's telcos about making smartphones for their networks but no details have been given by Acer officials.

It also reported that Acer will double its stores in China to 800 this 2009 and that a "research and development base" will be set up in the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Acer unveiled its initial smartphones in February in Barcelona, all powered by the Windows Mobile operating system but the company has also said it will roll out a non-Windows Mobile phone within the year.

China, which is considered as the world's biggest consumer market, will be launching its own 3G wireless network this 2009 which will be different from the 3G, WCDMA, HSDPA and HSPA technologies now used in most countries worldwide.

PCWorld says that only China Unicom is planning to launch the worldwide 3G WCDMA standard also widely used abroad.