U.S. toy giant Toys R Us is getting into the
burgeoning market for tablet computers with a new device aimed
squarely at kids, the company announced Monday.
The Tabeo will sell for 149 dollars, featuring a 7-inch screen and
a pre-installed package of 50 free games and activities for children.
The tablet runs on Google's Android 4.0 operating system and is
equipped with wi-fi but no cellular connection. A set of parental
controls will help keep young eyes away from inappropriate web sites,
Toys R Us said in a statement. The Tabeo will begin shipping on
October 1.
The Tabeo is not the first tablet aimed at the children's market,
but it could appeal to parents who don't want to share their own
tablets with their offspring, analysts say.
Announcement of the new tablet came as the market for the
touch-screen mobile computers is heating up with the launch of four
new devices from web retailer Amazon last week, and the expected
introduction of tablets running Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating
system before the start of the holiday shopping season.
Apple's iPad still dominates US tablet sales, but is coming under
increased pressure from Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets, as well as
Google's Nexus.
Apple has a launch event scheduled for Wednesday where it is
widely expected to announce a new iPhone and possibly a new tablet
with a 7-inch screen.
Click here for specs.
