Freescale unveils $200 Android tablet

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 4 Jan 2010 at 08:21

Freescale has unveiled a 7in, touchscreen tablet running the Android OS, which it claims will be priced at less than $200.

The tablet category is generating a lot of buzz with reports that Apple is preparing to launch its own device in January. However, Freescale, which creates reference designs for devices that other companies can license, will be hoping to steal its thunder.

According to the company, its tablet will be powered by an ARM processor, and able to run either Android or Linux. It will also feature Wi-Fi and 3G connections.

Although Freescale declined to name any potential vendors for its tablet design, it said devices could hit shelves as soon as this summer. The company expects to show prototypes at CES.

The PC has been stale in terms of its ability to innovate. Smartphones have been making progress, but they have limitations

Henri Richard, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Freescale, called the tablet the "missing link" between PCs and smartphones.

"The PC has been stale in terms of its ability to innovate. Smartphones have been making progress ... but they have limitations," he said.

Qualcomm Inc and Nvidia Corp are also expected to unveil smartbooks based on their chips at CES.

The devices will seek to break Intel's stranglehold on stripped-down, low-cost PCs. Intel's Atom processor dominates the fast-growing netbook market.