Report: Samsung Readies Windows 8 Tablet

Samsung executives will be showing off the device at the company's Build conference in Anaheim, Calif., next week, according to a story in the Korea Economic Daily.

Microsoft's plans for getting into the tablet computer market have been the source of a lot of speculation going back to the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2010 when CEO Steve Ballmer showed off a tablet device running Windows 7. But that product never made it to market.

This year there have been reports that Microsoft was considering developing its own branded tablet computer, as well as working with a limited number of device manufacturers to develop tablets that run Windows 8.

Microsoft is expected to provide details about Windows 8 at next week's Build conference and the Korea Economic Daily, citing an industry source, said Samsung will be showing off a tablet device based on Windows 8. Samsung has declined to comment on the report.

Samsung's Galaxy Tab computers run on Google's Android mobile OS, as does the manufacturer's Galaxy S smartphones. Last month Google said it will acquire Motorola Mobility, raising speculation that it could compete more directly with device makers like Samsung. Developing a Windows 8-based tablet could help Samsung diversify its product lines and make it less dependent on Google.

Samsung's Focus smartphone runs on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 mobile OS.

Windows 8 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile computers, using either a keyboard and mouse or a touchscreen.