As a yet another sign that Google Android operating system is slowly becoming the new default platform for mobile devices, Hewlett-Packard reportedly decided to use the platform for its new media tablet scheduled to arrive this year.

Hewlett-Packard has been out from the market of media tablets for a little less than two years after the fiasco with its webOS operating system and TouchPad slates in 2011. But while the company originally wanted to use now open-source webOS platform for consumer tablets in 2013, it looks like the company has changed its plans and decided to adopt Google Android operating system for its tablet due later this year.

HP is working on a slate that will be based on Nvidia Tegra 4 system-on-chip and Google Android operating system, reports Readwrite.com web-site. The product is projected to be one of the first to feature the new Tegra application processor and therefore can be expected to arrive sometimes in August or September.

The decision to use Google Android OS contradicts to comments the company’s executives made regarding the platform back in the past. However, since HP is facing declines on the market of personal computers and sees how its rivals, including Acer Group, Asustek Computer, Lenovo Group, Samsung and many others are gaining revenues by selling Android-based tablets, the firm has no choice but to follow. At present HP has no media tablet to offer and the new slate should help the firm to catch up with numerous rivals.

Previously, HP wanted to utilize webOS platform for consumer tablets in 2013, but it looks like the operating system the company got with the acquisition of Palm and later made open-source have failed to become competitive enough when compared to Apple iOS and Google Android. Moreover, Microsoft Corp.’s Windows RT yet has to become a rival for the aforementioned.

“HP supporting Android at this point in time is deeply strategic. As any vendor who has history in the PC industry knows, it can be rough when you are completely dependent on only one OS platform provider. It worked out well during the PC growth period because Windows was the standard computing platform. That is no longer the case when it comes to mobile computing where Android is the leading licensable mobile OS platform. The reality is that if HP, or any vendor for that matter, wants to have a relevant tablet / mobile strategy, it has to include Android,” concluded Ben Bajarin, principal analyst covering consumer market intelligence and trends for Creative Strategies.

HP did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: HP, Hewlett-Packard, Nvidia, Android, Tegra, Wayne, webOS, TouchPad