Sony to jump on tablet bandwagon

Sony plans to launch two Android 3.0 devices this autumn

Sony has become the latest manufacturer to try and wrestle market share from Apple in the tablet space, as it prepares to launch two devices this autumn.

The devices, codenamed the S1 and S2, will both run on Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating systems, and will have both Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities.

The S1 has a 9.4in display, while the foldable S2 has two 5.5in displays. Sony said that the S2's dual screen allows it to be used as one large screen or a smaller screen with a second screen displaying control buttons (for playing video games for example).

With Sony's tablets, users can access videos, games and books through Sony's premium network services. They can also use the devices to control home entertainment devices, using infrared technology to work as a remote control for a variety of Sony Bravia televisions.

The tablets fall into Sony's newly-created Consumer Products and Services Group, which was established this month. While the fact that the tablets run on Android may appeal to some CIOs interested in bringing tablet devices into the workplace, the firm is yet to articulate the benefits that these devices have for business users.