Samsung promises more Android, Windows 8 tablet PCs in fourth quarter

Samsung has eclipsed former electronics giants like Sony thanks to the strong growth in its mobile phone sales, but the Korean company hasn't emerged as a leader in the quickly growing tablet market. While the company has had success with its Galaxy Note Android tablet, it's not seen as a market leader like Apple, Amazon, and now Microsoft.

But that may chance, according to Samsung -- and possibly soon. Already it's jointly launched the Nexus 10 tablet with Google, and the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the company plans to launch a number of additional tablets before 2012 ends.

Those include the new Windows 8 and Windows RT models like the ATIV Smart PC 500T, but it's not clear if there will be even more Samsung slates, possibly additional Android models, among its new offerings. While it has Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab tablets that cover the 10-inch and 7-inch markets, Samsung hasn't made a splashy launch of new versions since the iPad Mini, Amazon Kindle Fire HD, and Microsoft Surface RT were announced to widespread media coverage.

But the company recently told investors that tablets will be a "new growth driver in our mobile business in the longer term," so don't look to Samsung to rest on its laurels. After a slow start in smartphones, the firm has become the biggest rival to Apple in the space, so it clearly has experience in playing catchup. The question is if Samsung has waited too long to make a push as a major tablet brand, and will have to work on joint ventures like Google's Nexus tablets to spur the growth it's looking for.

Can Samsung muscle its way back into the tablet picture like it has with smartphones? Or have the likes of Apple and Amazon put too much distance between themselves and Samsung? Let us know your thoughts in the Talkback section below.