Freescale promises bargain-price tablet this year

(AFP PHOTO / PASCAL PAVANI)

Freescale Semiconductor on Monday unveiled blueprints for a tablet computer to be priced at less than 200 dollars (US) when it debuts later this year.

The devices will sport touch screens with as much as four times the viewing area of typical smartphones and be about a third of the size of an average netbook computer, according to the Texas-based company.

"We believe the tablet will emerge as a popular form factor for the next generation of smartbooks," said Freescale vice president of sales and marketing Henri Richard.

"By introducing this prototype reference design, Freescale intends to play a vital role in propelling the mainstream adoption of smartbooks."

The tablets are designed with features including wireless internet connectivity, all-day battery life, and instant activation.

Versions of the tablet operating on Android and Linux software will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show that officially starts Thursday in Las Vegas, according to Freescale.

Freescale, which specializes in making chips embedded in devices, is hoping the blueprint will "jump-start creation of smartbook tablets" based on the company's microprocessors.

Products based on the design could be in the market by mid-year, according to Freescale.

"There is clearly strong end-user demand for tablet form-factors, and new reference designs look to play a major role in helping (electronics makers) speed tablet smartbook products to market," said ABI analyst Jerr Orr.