Dec 22, 2010 10:19 GMT  ·  By

With Palm claiming a few times before that it would launch lots of appealing webOS-based devices during the next year, and that some of them would be tablet PCs, it does not come too much as a surprise that the company would bring a handful of webOS slates at CES in January 2011.

Three such devices should make an appearance on the floor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, all of which supposedly run under the webOS 2.5.1 operating system version.

This is an yet unannounced flavor of the mobile platform Palm launched officially at CES in 2009, and follows the release of the webOS 2.0 iteration a few months ago (Palm Pre 2 is the only device that runs under it at the moment).

Apparently, HP/Palm will aim high with the upcoming devices, all of which would be similar in size with the Apple iPad. Interestingly enough, FoxNews.com, which broke the story, suggests that the tablet series would be dubbed PalmPad.

Moreover, it seems that at least one of these devices would sport a “nearly identical” to the iPad’s 9.7-inch touchscreen display. No specific info on what would differentiate the PalmPad devices from one another emerged.

Some rumored specifications for at least one of them would include a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, which should also pack LED flash, it seems.

At the same time, we should expect for the PalmPad to include a USB 3.0 port and a HDMI-out port. WiMAX compatibility with Sprint’s 4G network would also be present with the device, it seems.

Another device that would be added to the lineup, though it won't be present at CES, would pack an 8.9-inch screen, along with the same webOS 2.5.1 operating system version.

Of course, it might all turn out to be only a rumor for the time being, but, with CES 2011 knocking on our doors, we wouldn't be surprised if the rumor panned out. Keep an eye on this space for additional info on the matter.