ASUS Trademarks "Padfone" - Their Next Tablet Device?

Tweet

For months, we’ve heard rumors that ASUS will be coming out with a phone/tablet hybrid at their hometown Computex show in Taiwan. Now, we may have a name for that device. On Monday, the tech giant filed for a trademark for the term “Padfone”, and we even have what kind of font and styling they’ll use with the word. Kinda looks, iPad-ish, right?

The name “Padfone” only confirms the rumors that’ll be a tablet and phone hybrid, considering that it is quite obviously “pad” and “fone”. Tech bloggers and message board fans have been speculating as to what kind of device this “Padfone” could be. I suspect it will be similar to the Dell Streak, but many seem think it will be a tablet where a smaller phone handheld can detach out the back – similar to the Motorola Atrix. Sounds too complained, leaving me to call Occam’s Razor on this one. I guess we’ll see what they announce at Computex.

I think it’s also probably obvious that it’ll have to be an Android device, all things considered. Telephony on Windows 7? No way. The Windows Phone 7 hardware spec doesn’t allow devices with screens bigger than 4.5-inches or so. That pretty much leaves Android. It’s worth wondering if it’ll be running Android 2.4 or 3.1. Thus far, Android devices with Android 3.0 or later have all been just tablets, with the Dialer utility disabled. Does ASUS go with Android 2.4, for the “fone” part of the Padfone, or do they go with Android 3.1 for the “Pad” part? A lot of speculation, and I’ve always found ASUS computer parts to be quality, so it’s interesting to see what they’ll come out with.