Computer giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) has finally confirmed that it has been developing a both Windows and WebOS-based tablets.

HP announced that one of the two potential tablets would run webOS, Palm’s mobile operating system, while another would be based on Microsoft Windows 7. HP had purchased Palm in a $1.2 billion deal in April.

The webOS-based tablet will be launched early next year, but no comments were made about the release date of Windows 7 tablet.

Commenting on the topic, HP's personal systems group’s Chief Todd Bradley "You'll see us with a Microsoft product [running Windows 7] in the near future, and a webOS-based product in early 2011.”

Mr. Bradley said that Microsoft’s Windows 7 OS-based tablet computers would target enterprise users, while webOS-based devices would be better suited to consumers.

HP added that it webOS will also used to in a variety of smartphones, internet-enabled printers and netbooks.

Currently, the tablet computer market is dominated by Apple’s iPad. Apple claimed that it sold 1 million units of iPad within 28 days of its launch. The success of the iPad encouraged other computer companies to launch similar products in the market. Dell has already released Streak, while HTC is reportedly developing a tablet computer for Google.