NEW YORK —
Hewlett Packard will launch its first
tablets in July.
The Wi-Fi version of HP’s WebOS-based TouchPad
tablet will be in stores July 1 in the U.S. and will be followed
later in the summer by a model equipped with
AT&T cellular-data service, HP announced. The company
introduced the TouchPad in February.
Hewlett Packard announced that the Wi-Fi version
of the industry’s first WebOS-based tablet will
be available July 1 through U.S. retailers, commercial
resellers and direct from HP in 16GB and 32GB versions
at estimated street prices of $499 and $599,
respectively. U.S. preorders began June 19.
HP didn’t disclose details of the AT&T-equipped
version, declining to mention price or service plans,
specify whether it would be equipped with 3G or 4G
service, or indicate whether two-way video chat would
be enabled over cellular data as well as Wi-Fi.
U.S. retailers and commercial resellers of the Wi-Fi
TouchPad will include Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot,
Walmart, Sam’s Club, OfficeMax,
,
Fry’s, Microcenter, other local and regional retailers,
and HP’s online stores.
The 1.6-pound device, announced without pricing
earlier this year, features Web OS 3.0, 9.7-inch XGA
capacitive, multitouch screen with 1024×768 18-bit color
display, Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core 1.2GHz
processor, beta of Adobe Flash Player 10.3, Wi-Fi
802.11a/b/g/n, assisted GPS on the cellular-equipped
version, integrated front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam
for video chats, stereo speakers with Beats Audio technology, gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass.
Other features include stereo Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR,
Microsoft Exchange email with Microsoft Direct Push
Technology, POP3/IMAP email, and cellular-based
SMS, MMS, and IM over cellular. A rear-facing camera
wasn’t included in the company’s spec list.
The TouchPad comes out of the box with such productivity
apps as Google Docs or Box.net, ability to
print wirelessly to compatible networked HP printers.
The device is 9.45 by 7.48 by 0.54 inches in size
with rechargeable 6300 mAh battery.
Optional accessories include the Touchstone
Charging Dock, TouchPad Wireless Keyboard and
TouchPad Case.
