Huawei, Lenovo others, prep Windows 8 Tablets…as users demand more than entertainment

It has always been thought that the mobile age, of which the Steve Jobs magic fell on with the iPad, enjoyed nothing more than playing games, chatting, taking/sharing pictures and generally engaging in ‘non-productive’ activities, are not interested in working on the go. Even the foray of Google into the space with Android did little to change that belief.

By the time Windows entered the mobile space, many were of the view that the mobile space is not for ‘stiff and serious’ stuff. Wrong! Maybe its just about time the mobile age lets ‘serious work’ catch up with them as well as play.

As fallout of the aggressiveness seen from Microsoft since the introduction of the Windows 8 multi-platform environment, a number of PC makers have already confirmed their plans to create Windows 8 tablets, including HP, Lenovo and Dell. Now a new report claims that a Chinese smartphone maker, Huawei, has its own plans for releasing a Windows 8 tablet, along with smartphones that will run on Windows Phone 8, code-named Apollo.

The report, from China's WPDang (via IntoMobile), cites unnamed sources who claim that Huawei has an engineering team of 70 employees working on the Windows Phone 8 devices. It also reports that it has people in the US working directly with Microsoft on this. So far Huawei has launched its range of Windows 8 Smartphones in Africa with Nigeria as first destination. Aptly tagged, Huawei 4Afrika – it is a full functionality Windows Phone 8 which comse pre-loaded with select applications designed by Africans, for Africa.

It is claimed that the company has two current designs for its upcoming Windows Phone 8 devices. One is based on a previous Android phone design while the other is an all new creation with a touch screen that's said to be over four inches in size. Details about Huawei's Windows 8 tablet are scarce, with no word on if it will use an Intel/AMD x86 processor or one based on ARM's design. WPDang does claims it will have a built it wireless antenna that will support LTE-based networks, but offers no information on availability outside of China.

Chengdong Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Area has announced on Chinese social networking site Weibo the fact that a model related to MediaPad 10 FHD is in development, with Windows 8 on board. It could be a successor of the MediaPad 10, or simply that version with another OS. I’m curious to see how Huawei will price the product, considering the usually put out cheap devices. It will also be interesting to see if Microsoft allows them to use their own quad core CPU or make them comply to using an Intel chipset or an ARM one.

The MediaPad FHD 10 is a very appealing tablet, with the latest Android on board, so a Windows 8 version will also be pretty appealing. Huawei has another model in the works as well, with LTE connectivity and this product seems dedicated to the US market. Don’t be surprised if you also see them launching more Windows Phone 8 devices.