HP to woo channel with new tablet

Vendor to bounce back with business-focused device

HP is gearing up to launch a business tablet just a year after it canned the consumer-focused TouchPad.

The vendor beat an ignominious retreat from the tablet market last August but is now just weeks away from unleashing an "expandable" and "serviceable" device geared towards enterprise.

Talking to CRN US, Todd Bradley, executive vice president of HP's printing and personal systems business, said HP will spend "minimal time, if any time, on the consumer side" of the tablet market "right now".

"The product that we have developed, the serviceability of it, the ability for partners to make money with us on this tablet are just significant," said Bradley.

"Compared to any of the other people in the marketplace, no one has a better focus on the enterprise than HP. The combination of an HP Windows 8 tablet gives enterprises the security that they want for their behind-the-firewall applications."

Bradley was unable to divulge any product or pricing details but the new tablet is set to be announced in time for Microsoft's Windows 8 launch, according to CRN US.