LOS ANGELES – Startup Wikipad, developer of a 10.1- inch Android tablet optimized for gaming, will follow up the tablet’s Oct. 31 launch in 1,600 GameStop stores with November sales through additional brick-and-mortar and online retailers, CEO James Bower told TWICE.
The $499 tablet, which features detachable wraparound game controller, is available to consumers on a pre-order basis exclusively through GameStop.
Wikipad would also like to bring the tablet, also called Wikipad, to cellular carrier stores because a plug-in 3G cellular module has been developed and a 4G module is under development, said Bower, one of the two main partners in the privately held company.
Wikipad’s main partners hail from Master Image, which develops 3D projection equipment for cinemas and noglasses 3D panels for tablets and smartphones.
The company has self-funded product development and marketing to date but is looking to bring in additional capital for future growth, Bower noted.
The tablet boasts some cutting-edge capabilities that make it useful not just for gaming and media consumption but, with the game controller detached, for business users, Bower said.
The tablet features 10.1-inch HD 1,280 by 800 IPS Gorilla Glass display with 16:10 aspect ratio, Android JellyBean 4.1 OS, 1.4GHz quad-core CPU, 12-core Tegra 3 GPU, 16GB RAM, 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, DLNA certification, HDMI output, Wi-Fi Direct and stereo Bluetooth.
It’s promoted as the slimmest and lightest tablet at 0.34 inches in depth and 19.75 ounces in weight.
For gamers, the controller works with Android games designed with game-controller support, and the tablet is Play- Station Mobile-certified for PlayStation Mobile games.
