Blackberry mulls tablet by year-end

The company has not confirmed the reports, but bloggers say the tablet would be 8.9 inches and likely launched in December.

It will be the first non-hand-held device from the BlackBerry maker which is facing a tough challenge in the crowded smart phone market, with devices using Google’s Android and iPhone using Apple’s own software fast making inroads into its monopoly even in the high-end corporate market.

Taiwanese hardware manufacturer Quanta is likely to provide hardware and California-based maker Marvell Technology Group silicon solutions for the new device.