HP aims Windows-based Slate at the enterprise

The HP Slate is expected later this year

HP's Slate tablet will be marketed exclusively at business users, according to a senior HP executive speaking at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen, Colorado.

Todd Bradley, vice president of HP's Personal Systems Group, said that the Windows 7-based tablet will launch for the enterprise market "in the fall", according to reports.

HP was contacted by V3.co.uk to confirm this, but the company had not responded at the time of publication.

Tablet manufacturers have been targeting the enterprise for some time, but the devices have only taken off in markets such as warehouse management, according to Tim Coulling, a research analyst at Canalys.

"The enterprise world is heavily Windows oriented and the HP Slate will bring compatibility," he said.

"There is space for the Slate to do well, but it will hinge on the available apps, and whether touch interactivity brings productivity to businesses, or whether a notebook can be used."

Apple's iPad has been embraced to some extent by the business community, and insurance firm Torus was one of the first to implement the device.

Coulling acknowledged that the iPad is being used in the enterprise space for documents, email and presentations, but argued that the majority of apps are for consumers.

HP appears to be working overtime to crack the tablet and smartphone markets. The vendor has partnered with Microsoft to launch the Slate and recently completed the purchase of Palm to acquire what it believes are important patents, such as webOS.

HP hopes that the Slate will be able to replicate the iPad's achievements. Apple's tablet continues to sell well and is on course to become one of the best selling electronics products in history.