Taiwan-based notebook brand vendor Asustek Computer, at its pre-Computex press conference, announced its Padfone, bundling a 4.3-inch smartphone with a 10-inch tablet PC for an estimated price at US$799-1,000. The two devices will adopt Google’s next generation operating system codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich paired with Qualcomm’s processor and will be launched in December in time for the year-end holiday season.
Although Asustek did not showcase the device at the conference, company chairman Jonney Shih held an engineering sample of the device to explain the concept of the new products. Shih pointed out that the Padfone will allow consumers to choose whichever screen size they desire to display their content on, while the tablet PC’s battery can be used to extend the usage time of the smartphone plus the smartphone is also capable of connecting the tablet PC to Internet through its 3G module.
Although the Padfone’s upstream OEM/ODM is currently unknown, sources from the retail channel believe it should be either Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) or Pegatron Technology…
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