If you've held off buying an Apple iPad because Android is more
appealing to you, Digitimes Research's latest report ought to make
you beep with joy. Motorola will field the first Android 3.0 tablet
computer, and Verizon Wireless will sell it.
This information comes from Digitimes Research senior analyst
Mingchi Kuo, who says component makers clued him in to this
conclusion. Kuo notes that several hardware makers are vying to
offer the first Android 3.0 product blessed by Google. Motorola is
in the lead at the moment.
Similar to the way the HTC G1 Android phone was designed and
marketed, the first Android 3.0 tablet will be branded by all the
entities involved. That includes Google, the manufacturer, and the
carrier that sells it. Verizon Wireless is the supposed telecom
partner in this venture.
As with the G1, Google is taking a heavy-handed approach to the
design of the user interface elements and hardware specifications
of the unnamed Motorola product. Google played a huge role in the
final execution of the HTC-made G1, which was the first Android
handset.
Given Verizon's leadership with Motorola and Android 2.0 and 2.2
devices, this research note from Kuo seems plausible. In fact,
Verizon's head honcho, Lowell McAdam, said earlier this year that
it was working with Google to develop a tablet device.
Kuo believes the Motorola Android 3.0 device will reach mass
production by the end of 2010, and may possibly sell as many as 2
million units throughout 2011.
Apple has sold at least 3 million iPads since its April 2010 debut.