Google CEO confirms tablet computer in the works

Google CEO Eric Schmidt has hinted that the company is developing a tablet computer to rival Apple's iPad in a head-on competition.

According to a report, Schmidt told friends at a party in Los Angeles that Google is preparing to launch its own tablet computer. Industry insiders pointed out the news is not surprising given that Google has invited several publishers to upload their products on the Android platform.

The report estimated that Google's tablet computer will run the Android operating system rather than the Chrome operating system, because the former will turn Google's tablet computer into an oversized Google Android mobile phone, and Google has often derided the iPad as just an oversized iPhone.

However, Apple's iPad tablet computer has universally been praised and popular with consumers following its launch. Internet advertising company Chitika estimated that Apple had sold 600,000 iPads as of April 8 (U.S. time). IMS Research, a market research company, expected the size of the global tablet computer market to reach 3.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, in which, Apple will take a 51 percent market share.

However, IMS Research also believed that other producers will have many opportunities in the market.

By People's Daily Online