Motorola Developing Android TV Tablet

Motorola is looking to join the tablet party after reports said that it and Verizon Wireless have partnered up to build a Android-based tablet computer for TV consumption.

The companies, which have enjoyed a fruitful relationship building and selling the Android-powered Droid line of smartphones, are gunning for Apple’s iPad.

The iPad sold more than 3 million units in its first three weeks, cementing the tablet as a viable alternative or addition to PCs and laptops among consumers.

Media Oriented

A spokesperson for Motorola told eWEEK the phone maker would not comment on rumour or speculation. Verizon did not respond to questions seeking comment.

The Financial Times said the Motorola and Verizon tablet is a media-oriented Wi-Fi device with a 10-inch screen that will let users watch TV when it appears in the US this Autumn. Unlike the iPad, the mobile gadget will support Flash 10.

The tablet would deliver content from Verizon’s FIOS digital TV service for which Motorola already provides set-top boxes. IMS Research believes media-oriented tablets powered by such digital TV services will be popular in the home.

The device would also sport one camera for taking pictures and one camera for video conferencing.

Android Competition

This isn’t the first time talk of an Android tablet coming from Verizon has been bandied about.

Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed in May Google and Verizon were working on a tablet together.

But neither company makes hardware so some sort of manufacturer need be involved. Cue Motorola: Could this device be one and the same?

It’s unclear, but Android is gaining momentum versus Apple’s iPhone. In the past 6 months, Android phone subscribers grew 27 percent compared to 23 percent for Apple’s iPhone.

Android tablets are flirting with the market, too. Dell’s Streak is ready to launch in the US, while Lenovo, Samsung, HP and others are all building tablets based on Android.