Dell Ditching Android Devices As It Gets Cozier With Windows

Dell is placing its next mobile bet on Windows 2-in-1s over Android devices as the company said it is discontinuing its two remaining Android offerings on the market today.

Dell will no longer refresh its Venue Android tablets and no longer offer Wyse Cloud Connect, an Android cloud client device that’s slightly larger than a USB drive. For Venue tablets, Dell will no longer be sending out upgrades to the Android operating system, according to a PC World report.

David Wrenn, vice president at Branford, Conn.-based Dell partner Advanced Office Systems, said he’s surprised by the move, given Android’s popularity as an OS, although he acknowledged that Advanced Office Systems hasn’t done much business around Dell Android tablets.

’Our customer base would probably be more apt to buy an iPad [for business use]," Wrenn said. Still, ’Android is really the biggest OS for phones and tablets, so I’m kind of surprised [Dell is] going in the Microsoft direction.’

[Related: Head-To-Head: Dell Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 Vs. Lenovo Yoga 900]

Robert Braceland, vice president of sales and marketing at Entre Computer Center, a Dell partner in West Springfield, Mass., said he was less surprised by Dell’s shift away from Android. ’I can’t imagine [Dell’s] market share in the Android market is more than 1 percent,’ Braceland said.

Entre Computer Center hasn’t sold any Android devices from Dell, but has sold thousands of Windows tablets -- including Dell-made Windows devices, he said. ’The assumption for the most part is that Android is a phone-based OS, maybe a little bit in the phablet market,’ Braceland said.

In an emailed statement to CRN, Round Rock, Texas-based Dell said: "The slate tablet market is oversaturated and is experiencing declining demand from consumers, so we’ve decided to discontinue the Android-based Venue tablet line. For customers who own Android-based Venue products, Dell will continue to support currently active warranty and service contracts until they expire. We are seeing 2-in-1s rising in popularity since they provide a more optimal blend of PC capabilities with tablet mobility. This is especially true in the commercial space."

Dell Windows 2-in-1s include the Latitude 13 7000 Series and the Inspiron 11 3000 Series.

In May, Dell unveiled its new Inspiron 7000 2-in-1s that come in a handful of display sizes -- including a 17-inch version that Dell is touting as "the world's first 17-inch 2-in-1." The Inspiron 7000 comes in three editions -- 13.3, 15.6 and 17.3 inches. All versions include a Full HD, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution touch screen.