Eric Schmidt hints at Google Nexus NFC tablet mid 2012

Eric Schmidt hints at Google Nexus NFC tablet mid 2012

It’s great when Eric Schmidt does an interview, he knows just how to let things slip, and in a recent interview with Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, he mentioned a previously unheard of Google Nexus tablet. He added that this tablet would be of the highest quality. We bet it is an NFC tablet due to Google’s massive investment in the technology, but that is pure speculation. On the other hand, because this has been taken from a foreign translation it could merely mean that Google are going to push tablets made by manufacturing partners. Eric Schmidt said via Google translation that ”in the next six months we plan to market a tablet of the highest quality.”

What makes us think this may not be the case is the fact that Android tablets haven’t really inspired the general public as yet and the iPad is still romping away with most of the sales. It would probably make sense for Google to add some Nexus magic to an NFC tablet and build it the way they would want it – Ice Cream Sandwich, NFC and all on board. However, we have reached out to Google to see whether it was a bad translation or whether in fact Google is launching a hero tablet this next year.

2012 is the year of NFC tablet and NFC smartphones and it looks as if Google could shift competition to a new level

We all know that NFC tablets are due to hit this next year. Microsoft has given us a look at what they see being an NFC tablet solution. Intel showed off a Medfield NFC tablet at the same time by accident, and we already have the mighty little TazPad in the market. Rumors are swirling that the iPad 3 could have some NFC goodness lurking inside and we are even hearing about weird rumors of Walmart playing around with something. NFC tablets are coming, but which will be the NFC tablet to rule them all?

Of course, at this point there are far more questions than answers about this speculated NFC tablet coming out of mountain view. We wonder if this could be the first Android Jelly Bean product. Will it have NFC on board? What kind of processor and specs will be on board? Price range? We could think of a lot more questions, but we know we will just have to wait. If Apple doesn’t include NFC in the iPad 3 and Google hits the market with a Nexus NFC tablet it could well hit Apple’s waning position as an innovator again. That said, today we caught the news about the Apple TV and that it is rumored to have Siri embedded, and we have to say that is innovative. We also hope that features NFC for ads and programming.

The Asus Transformer Prime tablet and its mighty four cores is due to hit the market today, so Android currently has a new tablet hero that is reputed to get an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich in short order. However, that is sans NFC. If Google does enter the NFC tablet market directly, you can bet it will change the landscape and add some real competition for the iPad.