Acer is looking to make its mark on the U.S. smartphone market by offering free or low-cost handsets when customers sign up for a service contract with the carrier.
Acer has already been selling the company’s Aspire One netbook at Radio Shack with a two-year AT&T contract for $99, plus $60 a month, which is music to AT&T’s ears. With operator subsidies on board and Acer’s economies of scale, Acer’s Smartphone Unit President Aymar de Lencquesaing said he’ll be able to push Windows phone prices down to free with contract.
“We’ll make it a very simple, easy interface…and these will retail at zero dollars,” he said.