Dell's ardour for the mobile phone business seems very much cooled. When asked yesterday about the company's possible interest in buying up Motorola's mobile phone business, Michael Dell responded that the company is "more focused on the computer business", and wouldn't be drawn further.

Dell flirted with mobile computing through their Axim line, but even with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi the lack of mobile phone capability limited the success of the range, which was eventually put down last year.

More recently, rumours have surfaced about Dell launching a handset based on Google's Android platform. That would be a slap in the face to Microsoft, and could be risky for Dell's relationship with Redmond.

However, Michael Dell's comments would appear to knock that idea on the head too, so Motorola will have to look elsewhere for a buyer, while Google will have to find someone else interested in Android, keeping both companies busy ahead of the Mobile World Congress (the conference formerly known as 3GSM) in Barcelona next week. ®

Related stories

• Dell quick to ship first EqualLogic box (4 February 2008)
• Dell developing Google Android handset, moles claim (31 January 2008)
• Dell torches US kiosks (31 January 2008)
• Project Watch: Microsoft 2008 Experience overcomes Microsoft's broken promises (29 January 2008)
• Radio Reg From water wheels to the Google brain (18 January 2008)
• Dell tells customer 'Mac is good option' (16 January 2008)