Very successful devices such as Apple’s iPhone and Research In Motion’s BlackBerry created a massive demand in the smartphones market and the opportunity was quickly notices by other companies with a desire to diversify their product line and boost their profits.

After Google and HTC entered the market with the G1 Android, it is now Dell’s turn to do it. The main question among market analysts is: will Dell come up with the next great product of desire, or will it turn to be another flop?

But not only Dell is rumored to enter the market of sophisticated mobile phones. Other big computer manufacturers such as Acer, Lenovo and AsusTek are tempted of expanding their activity by making samrtphones.

In Dell’s case, the rumors that it plans to make a smartphone started back in 2007, when the computer maker stopped selling the Axim PDA. Many industry observers saw that as a sign of Dell’s intention of making a smartphone. Now, with the GSMA Mobile World Congress less than a month away, the rumors heated up.

Acer Inc. did not hide its intentions and said it plans to launch a smartphone ad the GSMA, a show where companies traditionally launch their highly-expected products. 

The computer producers are very attracted by the smartphone market because the market they currently compete on is expected to decline and also because launching a high-selling mobile phone gets them attractive deals with telecommunications companies.

However, the computer firms haven’t had a high level of success in the smartphone industry so far. Even big phone makers such as Nokia, Motorola and Palm are struggling in a market dominated by Apple and Research In Motion.

Dell has been reportedly working on a series of smartphones over the past year, the Wall Street Journal reported. Those prototypes reportedly include a phone with a touch-screen keyboard and another one with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

Nevertheless, Dell would be entering the already crowded smartphone market a bit too late and most analysts doubt the fact that the company has what it takes to make an impact.