It’s looking more and more likely that 2010 will be the year of the tablet. Add Microsoft to the list of tech giants rumored to be developing a touchscreen tablet, along with two touchscreen phones to compete with the iPhone.
ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley claims receiving tips that Microsoft is developing a touchscreen tablet featuring technologies used in its Surface touchscreen table. She tacks on a rumor about Pink, a “Microsoft-branded (but not Microsoft-manufactured) phone,” with a January 2010 launch date. No indications when, exactly, a Microsoft Surface-powered tablet would emerge. Perhaps next year as well?
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft is waiting for Apple to show its tablet hand before trotting out its revamped tablet,” Jo Foley writes.
ZDNet’s details on the devices are scarce, but more interesting is the mounting evidence suggesting tablets will be a buzzing product category next year. In August, Wired.com received tips that Dell and Intel are collaborating on a touchscreen tablet due for release next year. Also, an analyst told Wired.com he’s heard Nokia and HTC are working on tablets as well. And of course, there has been a plethora of reports citing sources who claim Apple will deliver a touchscreen tablet in 2010.
On top of these hints, market research firm Display Search now projects the touchscreen market will triple in the next few years, from $3.6 billion to $9 billion. The iPhone played a significant role in driving touchscreen technology into the mainstream, analysts told Wired.com.
Of course, just because tablets are likely to be trendy among manufacturers in 2010 doesn’t mean they’ll be hot sellers. We’ll have to wait a little longer to learn more about how these new tablets will differ from the scores that have come and gone in years past.
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Photo of the Microsoft Surface, whose technology is rumored to appear in a tablet next year: Marilink/Flickr
