Optus looking at Android-based tablets

Optus hinted today that it may launch tablets in the Australian market based on Android, as the popularity of Google's mobile operating system continues to take the SingTel subsidiary by storm.

The telco has appeared to lag behind big brother Telstra with Android launches in Australia. Telstra quickly stole much of the Android limelight with its HTC Desire launch in April, but Optus has followed up with a plethora of Android handsets from other manufacturers and, speaking at Optus' regular financial results briefing session today, consumer managing director Michael Smith was upbeat about the Google platform.

"In fact, we are in a situation now where ... we are offering more Android-capable devices than [most other telcos]," Smith told journalists. "And that platform seems to be gaining a quite solid traction in the marketplace."

"We've also had a number of discussions with Google about how that manifests itself moving forward with new generations of the Android platform."

Smith said that Optus was examining how Android would be deployed on upcoming "pad or tablet-style devices", which the telco was aware were rapidly coming to market.

The executive said Optus had seen good take-up of Apple's iPad tablet since it launched earlier this year and that the iPhone 4 launch was even better.

"We certainly had a few more people lining up around our shops then we had in any of the first two years," Smith said.

Dell is known to be shopping its Streak tablet around with Australian telcos, but although it's available through online retailers, as yet no mobile carrier has decided to stock the device. A number of other manufacturers, such as HP and ASUS, are known to be developing tablet devices running Android.