Iorama blog

T-Mobile to sell tablet with 3-D cameras, glasses

NEW YORK – Aiming to ride two crazes at once, T-Mobile USA will sell a tablet computer that can shoot 3-D videos.

The cell phone company said Wednesday that the "G-Slate" tablet from LG Electronics Inc. will be out this spring, but it didn't say exactly when, or how much it would cost.

The tablet will have an 8.9-inch screen and two cameras on the back, which together can capture 3-D, high-definition video. The tablet will come with red-blue 3-D glasses for 3-D viewing while shooting.

The G-Slate will be one of the first tablets with Honeycomb software, a version of Google Inc.'s Android operating system specifically designed for tablet computers.

The G-Slate will have a third camera on the front, for video-conferencing over T-Mobile's wireless broadband network.

The 3-D tablet comes as gadget makers and phone companies are trying to ride the coattails of Apple Inc.'s hit iPad tablet computer. Meanwhile, Hollywood studios and TV makers are pushing 3-D movies and TV sets, but 3-D TV sales have so far been disappointing.

Also Wednesday, T-Mobile is starting to sell another tablet, the Streak 7 from Dell Inc. It runs an Android version designed for smart phones. It costs $199 with a two-year contract for data service, after a $50 mail-in rebate.