14 DAY TRIAL // Computer maker HP has been rumored lately to plan the release of Android-based smartphones in the near future, and it appears that confirmation on the matter has already arrived.
Speaking to Re/code, the company has confirmed plans to release two large smartphones in India, one featuring a 6-inch screen and another with a 7-inch display.
Both devices come to the market with voice capabilities and will be launched as Slate 6 and Slate 7 VoiceTab, Ron Coughlin, VP for the consumer PC business at HP, has unveiled.
Moreover, he said that the company chose to launch the new devices in India due to the fact that users in this country appear attracted to large smartphones (aka phablets) at the moment.
At the same time, Coughlin confirmed that HP had tested the devices in the territory and that it had received great response from users in the country.
The two HP handsets will arrive on the market with Google’s Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system loaded on top, and with a quad-core processor inside, though specific info on it hasn’t been provided as of now.
Apparently, HP has decided to include 16GB of internal memory inside the two new products, while also adding a microSD memory card slot to the mix, so that users could expand the available memory by up to 32GB.
Slate 6 is said to boast a 1,280 x 720 pixels resolution, while the larger Slate 7 should arrive on shelves with a 1,280 x 800 pixels screen. Both phablets will hit shelves with front-facing stereo speakers.
HP also packed them with 5-megapixel cameras on the back, as well as with 2MP front cameras for making video calls. Both include dual-SIM capabilities, and support for 3G networks.
One of the main selling points of the new devices will be their thinness, as Slate 6 is said to be a bit less than 9mm thick, while Slate 7 measures 9.5mm.
HP hasn’t provided specific info on the pricing of the two handsets, but it did say that users would be able to purchase them starting with the next month. Stay tuned for more on the matter.
