News In Brief

Verizon, Google team up on new tablet computer

Daryl Paranada May 12, 2010

Verizon and Google are teaming up to work on creating a new tablet computer that can compete with Apple’s iPad.

The partnership is just the latest sign of a strong relationship between the two companies. Verizon, which is the largest U.S. wireless carrier by subscribers, promoted Motorola’s Druid phone last year, which runs Google’s software.

From the Wall Street Journal:

“What do we think the next big wave of opportunities are?” Mr. McAdam said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “We’re working on tablets together, for example. We’re looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience.” Verizon Wireless declined to discuss details on the timing or the manufacturer of a such a tablet. Google’s role in the tablet wasn’t immediately clear, though Mr. McAdam mentioned it in the context of the discussions the two companies have about bringing new smartphones to market.

There is no set release date or information about what the new tablet might include. Verizon’s rival, AT&T is the carrier providing wireless data access for users of the iPad. In early April, Apple announced it had sold over a million iPads.

Follow our iPad coverage here.

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