HTC is working on a tablet running Google's Chrome operating system that will be sold through Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ), according to the blog Download Squad.
The blog, which cited an unnamed source, said the tablet will launch Nov. 26--Black Friday. Verizon has in the past indicated it likely will launch tablets based on Google's Android platform, but has made no mention of a Chrome product. HTC, best known for making smartphones, has not given any clear indication that it plans to produce a tablet.
An HTC spokesman declined to comment. A Verizon spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"There is clearly strong interest in this space (tablets) right now, and although HTC has no new products in this space, we can tell you that we are constantly evaluating a variety of technology and category opportunities as demonstrated in the past with unique devices like the HTC Shift and HTC Advantage," an HTC spokesman told FierceWireless in July. "With that said, we won't just participate in a category that we don't think we can bring clear value and differentiate ourselves."
A Chrome tablet would be a notable move, as vendors across the spectrum, including Samsung and others, are planning tablets running Google's Android operating system. Google's Android platform is targeted at smartphones, while the company's forthcoming Chrome operating system was initially announced as targeting netbooks. The recent popularity of tablets, driven by Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad, cash in on the area between smartphones and netbooks.
In other Chrome news, the blog 1up.com reported that Google plans to launch its Chrome Web store in October. At its I/O conference in May, Google unveiled plans for a Chrome Web Store for HTML5 apps, primarily targeted at desktop computers running the company's Chrome Web browser.
For more:
- see this DownloadSquad post
- see this PCWorld article
- see this 1up.com post
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