Samsung Electronics to unveil new tablet computer in March

 South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that it will launch a new 7-inch tablet computer next month in a bid to further tap into the smart device market.

The company said that it will launch the Galaxy Tab 2 in global markets next month, starting with its debut in Britain. Its newest tablet computer will be run on the most up-to-date version of the Android operating system, called Ice Cream Sandwich.

Currently, Samsung Electronics has a lineup of 10.1-inch tablet computers named Galaxy Tab 10.1 and its revised version, the Galaxy Tab 10.1N.

Samsung Electronics said it will showcase the new tablet computer at the world's largest trade show in the mobile industry, titled the Mobile World Congress. The trade fair will be held from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Barcelona, Spain.

The Korean firm is making efforts to meet growing demand for smart devices, including smartphones, as sales of conventional handsets and personal computers are losing steam.

Late last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note, which combines the strength of a smartphone with a tablet computer. Its local rival LG Electronics is set to release a new 5-inch smart device similar to the Galaxy Note. (Yonhap News)