Bookmaker.com lays odds on upcoming tablet launches

Computerworld - HTC is most likely to introduce a tablet computer after the rumored BlackPad from Research in Motion is launched, online odds maker Bookmaker.com predicts.

Tablet computers, and which maker will release the next iPad rival, are hot enough to have attracted everybody's attention -- including gamblers. While Bookmaker.com may not have the credentials of a Gartner analyst, it does occasionally place odds on technology launches, especially the most-discussed ones.

Bookmaker.com is placing odds on which of six manufacturers will be next to release a tablet.

The sportsbook put HTC as a 50-50 bet to be the next to launch a tablet, followed by Nokia, which Bookmaker.com said has a 40% chance of being next. It then listed four others tied at 25% as the most likely to announce a tablet: LG, Sharp, Motorola and Sanyo.

The list doesn't include the BlackPad from BlackBerry maker Research in Motion. The BlackPad is rumored to coming next week, and wasn't included because that device seems a fairly sure bet, a spokesman for Bookmaker.com said in an interview.

Bookmaker.com lists HTC with the lowest payout since it is most likely to be the next to launch a tablet. HTC would pay 1:1 or $100 for every $100 bet. Nokia would pay 1.5:1 or $150 for every $100 bet. All the others would pay 3:1 or $300 for every $100 bet.

Matt Hamblen covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at @matthamblen or subscribe to Matt's RSS feed. His e-mail address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

Read more about Hardware in Computerworld's Hardware Topic Center.