14 DAY TRIAL // An Orange France executive has revealed Apple's plans for introducing a tablet in a radio interview by Jean-Pierre Elkabbach Monday morning. Admittedly, the interviewer seems to have subtly slipped the “term” tablet when addressing the question, while Stéphane Richard was already breathing in for the “Yes”.
For months, rumors of Apple introducing its own tablet device have circulated with blazing speed. The last few weeks have been critical with almost every Apple-centered site claiming to hold valuable information regarding the device. Not surprisingly, the latest such rumors have revolved around the actual parts comprising the device. Sources even claim to have learned of a possible delay, due to last-minute requests on behalf of Apple.
Many believe Apple’s tablet will be a hybrid between the ultra-portable iPod touch and the company’s notebooks, with an enhanced version of the iPhone OS being at the center of the tablet experience. All bets are on a device capable of taking Multi-Touch to the next level, but also 3G-based video-conferencing, ebook capabilities and other media-focused goodness.
Up until this radio interview took place, the Apple tablet was expected to be unveiled on January 27th, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. A translated version of the conversation between radio host Jean Pierre Elkabbach and Orange France exec. Stéphane Richard can be found below, courtesy of 9to5mac commenter Commenter ManuGG.
Jean Pierre Elkabbach (interviewer): "According to the weekly Le Point, in a few days your partner Apple will launch a Tablet with a webcam"
Stéphane Richard: "Yes"
Jean Pierre Elkabbach: "Will the users of Orange benefit of it to"
Stéphane Richard: "Sure! They will, with the webcam it will indeed be transmitted image in real time. We'll update this in a way videophone we saw a few years ago, and again, the network size and network quality that we put in place to serve the French will allow the new uses to develop everywhere. "