HTC Prepping Windows RT Tablets for 2013 Release to Rival Apple iPads [REPORT]

According to Bloomberg's latest report, HTC is secretly working on tablets which will run on Windows operating system. Prepping to compete directly with Apple iPads, the Taiwanese manufacturer has been speculated to launch 12-inch tablets and 7-inch tablets by 2013 accompanied with voice calling feature.

Reports state that Qualcomm chips will be used in them with Windows RT being the OS. It is said that the company considered bringing out devices running on Windows 8 but ditched the idea due to the high estimated cost. It would have cost $1000 per device. Therefore, HTC has settled for the less expensive Windows RT devices.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft and Peter Chou, CEO of HTC engaged in a tete-a-tete about their windows Phone plans for the future. It has not been revealed whether Windows RT tablets also became part of the conversation. However, HTC's ambition regarding the tablet has been quite clear for a while now.

Back in September, reports had come out saying that HTC was involved in making Windows 8 tablets. Qualcomm figured in the reports then too. Kouji Kodera, chief product officer at HTC, had said at that time that the company was exploring options in the tablet segment, and was putting together several product concepts in order to come up with the right one.

If the Windows RT tablet is launched, Microsoft will be in competition with devices like Nexus 7, Amazon's Kindle Fire and Apple's iPad mini. However, it remains to be seen whether the form factor of the Windows RT devices is capable enough to stand up to Android and iOS devices. The Windows RT tablets from HTC are expected to be released by Q3, 2013.