Technology Blog

Samsung Electronics Co. introduced plans to produce a tablet computer this quarter based on Google's Android operating system. Global handset vendors and PC makers like Nokia, LG Electronics and Hewlett-Packard Co. are all stepping into the tablet market, challenging Apple's popular iPad. Samsung said its tablet PC will have a 7-inch display, smaller than the 9.7-inch screen on the iPad, which sold over 3 million units since its launch in April. The South Korean electronics maker did not provide any more details on the future device. LG Electronics, the world's number 3 handset maker behind Samsung and Nokia, also plans to introduce tablets or slate devices running on Android in the fourth quarter. Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday that it would introduce new tablets based on its Windows operating system to try and fend off competition brought by Apple and Google.---On the Net:Samsung Electronics Co.Google Android