Acer Launching Its Own App Store, eBook Reader, and Tablet This Year

According to Bloomberg, Taiwan-based international manufacturer Acer Inc. is said to be launching its own app store, tablet, and ebook reader this year. Two of those three markets have so far been dominated by Apple and Amazon. Acer is looking to boost its net income by launching all those products in addition to Chrome OS powered netbooks this year.

Acer’s unnamed app store will be reportedly compatible with Android, Windows, and Windows Mobile operating systems. Google Chrome OS is also expected to be supported when it launches later in the year. According to Jim Wong, Acer president of IT Products division, the applications will be free or almost free. Wong declined to name the developers of the applications.

As far as the ebook reader goes, Acer is expected to launch the device by the end of June. The Acer ebook reader is said to feature a  6-inch monochrome screen. It will be distributed in up to 5 European countries at first. Wonk cited: “Amazon, Barnes & Noble; they are U.S.-centric. In Western Europe and Asia-Pacific we have publishers to work with, and most of them are content owners.” He said Acer is already in talks with various publishers, which he declined to name.

Additionally, there’s word that Acer will be developing its very own tablet. Wang openly admitted that they’re waiting until Apple releases its tablet, and they will see what happens from there on. He went on to say that they are “going to work either in the Windows world or in Google’s defined OS space.”

Finally, Acer will incorporate Google Chrome OS in at least 10% of its netbooks. As we’ve heard before, they will be launched in the third quarter of this year. More information coming when we learn more.