Google's 'gPad' Plans Advance: Report

Google The New York Times.

While computer vendors like Hewlett-Packard and smartphone vendors like Nokia have publically committed to developing tablet PC devices, other companies like Google and Microsoft are still staying quiet about their rumored plans to enter the market, The New York Times reported on Sunday.

For Google, such a device would give it another opportunity to compete with Apple. Google Android-based smartphones and Apple's iPhone are already intense rivals, and the development of a tablet device would give Google another outlet for developers of Android apps.

In addition to smartphones, Google's Android operating system is also being used by other vendors to develop eReaders, including devices like Barnes & Nobel's Nook and Spring Design's Alex.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt was reported to have told friends at a party in Los Angeles about his company's new Android-based tablet PC, while other unnamed sources said Google has already been quietly working with publisher about how to bring books, magazines, and other content to the device, The New York Times reported.

This is not the first time that Google has been named a potential rival to Apple in the tablet PC market.

Several news sites in early February including IT Wire said that Google is planning to unveil a gPad device to rival the iPad.

At that time, Google used its Chromium project Website to unveil photos and details of a tablet PC-like device.

Andrew Hickey contributed to this article.