Google’s plans surfaced in an interview with Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Lowell McAdam in the Wall Street Journal. Mr McAdam revealed that the carrier is collaborating with Google right now with a view to creating a computer that can capitalise on the "next big wave of opportunities”.

He was cagey as to specs and what USPs it might have, noting only that the two companies are “looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience”.

Of course, Google’s tablet won’t be the only challenger in the burgeoning tablet space. Incoming also are devices from Intel and HP. And that’s to name just a couple. But it’s fair to say that Google’s is the most likely to impact on iPad sales – if only because it’ll run the in-vogue Android operating system.

Natch, Fandroids won’t be the only ones welcoming a Google broadband tablet with open arms. UK mobile broadband providers will be just as made up that a viable rival tablet is on the way that’s likely to have genuine mass market appeal.

That’s especially the case if rumours are to be believed that Apple drove an especially hard bargain over tariff pricing and margins. Having the chance to offer another tablet to customers will strengthen carriers’ hand considerably when the next iPad iteration comes around.