Google expected to unveil tablet at developer conference in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO – A small tablet computer bearing Google’s brand is expected today.

If speculation about the long-rumoured device pans out, the Google tablet is likely be seen more of a threat to Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle Fire than Apple Inc.’s top-selling iPad.

More details should emerge Wednesday during a conference in San Francisco.

Like the Kindle Fire, the Google tablet is believed to have a 7-inch screen, measured diagonally — smaller than the iPad’s nearly 10-inch display.

If it’s the smaller size, Google Inc.’s tablet probably would be in the same price range as the Kindle Fire, which sells for US$199.

A Google expansion into the tablet market would bring another imposing entrant into what is already a battle of tech heavyweights. Last week, Microsoft Corp. announced its own tablet, Surface.