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"Microsoft is said to be planning to ratchet up its rivalry with Apple by introducing its own tablet device at a press event scheduled for next week, according to a report from TheWrap.\r\n\r\nThe event will see a &amp;quot;major Microsoft announcement&amp;quot; and we've heard speculation that it could be one of many possible stories unveiled, from the $1 billion plus acquisition of Yammer, to a partnership with RIM and Microsoft's tablet strategy. TheWrap says that it is the latter, and a Microsoft-built iPad-rival is coming, according to &amp;quot;an individual with knowledge of the company&amp;quot;.\r\n\r\nThe new device could well be built on Windows RT, one of Microsoft's new Windows 8 platforms, which is designed to keep\u00A0ARM-powered PCs and tablets \u2018thin and light\u2019.\r\n\r\nWhile details are still emerge about RT-powered devices, reports are already suggesting that cost may be an issue. The\u00A0company is said to be planning to charge $85 for inbuilt support for Office, and additional fee could bump the cost of devices up and make them more expensive than their\u00A0equivalents\u00A0in Apple's iPad family.\r\n\r\nGiven that Apple's tablets dominate the sales in the space, price is an important battle ground for any would-be contender, and failing to at least match the iPad could count against Microsoft's products.\r\n\r\nMore details will likely emerge, and we'll keep you posted with them and their significance for Microsoft and the industry.\r\n\r\nImage:\u00A0Flickr / ToddABishop"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2012/06/15/microsoft-is-reportedly-launching-its-own-ipad-rivaling-tablet-next-week/>