The co-branded Asustek-Google tablet is due in May
Digitimes reports today that Google and Asustek will be unveiling a 7-inch co-branded tablet PC as early as May. Such move is seen by analysts as targeting directly on Amazon’s Kindle Fire because it will also be competitively priced at US$199-US$249.
In response however, both Asustek and Google declined to comment. As sources speculated earlier that the device could be nothing more than a white-box MeMO 370T.
Digitimes also claimed that Google has been actively outsourcing Taiwan-based partners at the end of 2011. HTC was its first choice but the company though has strong design capability insisted on directing development of the co-brand model and was unwilling to develop a low-price model to impair its brand image. Another firm, Acer, but it lacked the much needed in-house R&D capability so also did not make the list. Finally, Google chose Asustek because of its ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) capability and overall good product quality.
Sources cited by Digitimes stated that what motivates Asustek to the partnership is its endeavor to win Google’s confidence to facilitate development of its Android-based devices, to learn Google’s technology to develop software and content, as well as to enter the US tablet market
Sources also noted that the co-branded device will be expected to be the first one using Google’s Play Store.
Digitimes also reported that Asustek’s revenues has been on the rise – on March 8th Asustek reported revenues of NT$27.578 billion (US$931 million) for February alone. This figure grew to 26.49 per cent on month and 94.03% on year. January-February revenues of NT$49.417 billion hiked 45% on year.
| Via: Digitimes | Source: 1 | Image credit: 1 |
The co-branded Asustek-Google tablet is due in May
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