Sharp's Galapagos tablet computer
(Mainichi Japan) December 30, 2010 Sharp Corp. will start selling its Galapagos tablet computer in the U.S., China, India, Brazil and other areas from next year, the company has announced.
In the U.S., where sales will initially begin, the device will be equipped to handle the EPUB digital book format, which the company hopes will appeal to U.S. publishers and consumers purchasing e-books.
Early next year, Sharp will make a joint announcement with at least one major U.S. communications company on the launch of sales in the U.S.
In Japan, the Galapagos uses Sharp's XMDF format to read digital books, but the company hopes that by also catering to the EPUB format, which is becoming the world standard, the device will appeal to U.S. customers.
Furthermore, the U.S. models will add a 3G mobile communications function, and Sharp is expected to jointly operate a website offering downloads of digital books with a major U.S. communications firm.
Japanese models have only a wireless local area network connection, but for the U.S., which with its much larger land area has a poorer wireless network environment than Japan, the company decided to add 3G functionality.
The company will later sell the device in China, India, Brazil and other emerging countries, hoping to spread the tablet computer around the world.
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