SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--Dell Inc. (DELL) unveiled its second tablet computer Wednesday, a move that expands its portfolio of mobile devices and ramps up the competition for Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPad device.
The 7-inch tablet will run Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android smartphone operating system, Dell Chief Executive Michael Dell told an audience at Oracle Corp.'s (ORCL) annual conference in San Francisco. He did not provide other technical details or its expected release date.
Representatives of the Round Rock, Texas-based company did not immediately respond to requests for more details.
The move comes roughly five months after Apple began selling its iPad, igniting consumer interest in the emerging tablet computer category. Apple sold more than 3.3 million iPads in its first quarter of sales, while a host of other computer makers are rushing similar devices to the market.
Dell released its first tablet device, dubbed the Streak, earlier this year in Europe before releasing it in the U.S. That device is 5-inches--half the size of the iPad--can make and receive calls, and runs Android.
The Streak's impact on Dell's financial performance is expected to be muted. Shortly after its debut, Dell said initial sales were "interesting, exciting, but immaterial to Dell's $60 billion in revenue."
Dell said the Streak would be available at Best Buy Co. (BBY) stores soon.
Dell has indicated that it is willing to take chances in the tablet computer market. In June, Chief Financial Officer Brian Gladden said in an interview, "We'll have a series of these devices," adding that low development costs allow the company to test different form factors on the market.
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