HP, the world's largest supplier of personal computers, confirmed plans to release a tablet based on webOS operating system it acquired along with Palm earlier this year. In addition, the firm said that it would launch a Microsoft Windows 7-based slate in the near future.

"[Tablet business] was a big part of the reason we acquired Palm. You will see us with a Microsoft product out in the near future and a webOS based product in early 2011," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president of the personal systems group at HP, during a conference call with financial analysts.

The information about a slate based on webOS was released earlier this month unofficially. The project is known internally as Hurricane and there are possibilities that Palm started it quite some time ago as an independent company. No technical specifications are known, but since webOS will be used, it is likely that the device will be powered by an ARM-based system-on-chip.

It should be noted that HP also plans to release a slate-type personal computer for enterprises running Windows 7 and also an electronic book reader powered by Google Android. Three tablets from one company seems somewhat excessive, given the fact that they will inevitably compete against each other.

Various manufacturers of personal computers or mobile devices are also gearing up to release their tablets early next year. With three tablets under HP brand due in 2010 or early in 2011 it is evident that HP is very serious about its slate lineup.

Tags: HP, webOS, Android, Windows