Acer Inc. (2353) said Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)’s planned introduction of its own brand of tablet computers is negative for the industry and would pit the software company against its customers.

“On one hand Microsoft is our partner, but on the other, Microsoft’s move makes them compete not only with us but all PC makers,” Henry Wang, a spokesman for Acer, the world’s third- largest computer maker, said by telephone today. “We think that Microsoft’s launch of its own-brand products is negative for the whole PC industry.”

Microsoft in June unveiled Surface, a tablet computer the Redmond, Washington-based company developed that is powered by its Windows operating system. The device will be available later this year.

The Financial Times reported Acer’s comments earlier. Acer is debating whether to continue relying on Microsoft software, the newspaper reported, citing Campbell Kan, the Taiwan company’s president for PC global operations. Wang said he wasn’t able to confirm those comments.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Culpan in Taipei at tculpan1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Tighe at mtighe4@bloomberg.net