Rumours suggesting Amazon will belaunching an own-brand Android tablethave been given a fresh boost after sources close to Taiwan-based component makers have indicated that the Internet retail giant has already placed OEM orders for the device, which could ship as soon as the second half of 2011.
Digitimes reportsthat Taiwanese notebook maker Quanta Computer has received orders to manufacture the Amazon tablet, working with electrophoretic display (EPD) maker E Ink Holdings (EIH) which will supply touch panels for the device as well as its Fringe Field Switching (FFS) technology.
Despite the fact that Amazon has yet to announce a tablet PC, orders for the device are already expected to reach between 700,000 and 800,000 units in the peak season. Orders will reportedly be filled by the second half of 2011, suggesting the device could launch within a number of weeks.
Last month, Peter Rojas, co-founder of popular gadget websiteGdgt, reignited rumours of an Amazon tablet release,suggestingthe retail giant hadpartnered with Samsung to release a device later this year.
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Rumours of an Amazon Android tablethave been circulatingover the past few weeks, gaining momentum after the company created and unveiled its ownAndroidAppstore application and Cloud Drive digital music locker, services that would perfectly suit an Amazon-branded device should one ever exist.
Digitimes’ sources have also suggesting Amazon will attempt to reverse the lack of adoption of its Kindle e-reader by reducing its price in markets outside of North America and Europe, increasing consumer demand, subsequently increasing sales of its tablet PC.
Story byMatt Brian
Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him on Twitter, subscribe to his updates on Facebook and catch up with him(show all)Matt is the former News Editor for The Next Web. You can follow him onTwitter, subscribe to his updates onFacebookand catch up with him onGoogle+.
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