In an indication that HTC Corp. could be developing a tablet computer that will take on the Apple iPad, the Taoyuan, Taiwan-based firm has reportedly filed for a trademark for a device called "HTC Scribe."

According to a Bloomberg report, the filing for the trademark - which was recorded with the US Patent and Trademark Office on December 26 - describes that HTC Scribe as a "handheld wireless device, namely a tablet computer." It is being speculated that the HTC Scribe will probably run the Android version 3.0, dubbed `Honeycomb', which will be optimized for tablet use.

Despite the fact that the trademark filing does not directly indicate that HTC, the biggest mobile phone maker of Android-based handsets, will release the trademarked product, a tablet computer from the company is largely being seen as in inevitable move. HTC has not yet announced a tablet computer, and Chief Financial Officer Cheng Hui-Ming had said in October that the company is "studying the market."

In the opinion of Will Stofega, program director at Framingham, Massachusetts-based consulting firm IDC, a HTC tablet will offer an alternative to the iPad, along with competing on pricing.

In fact, in a December 13 report, KGI Research's analyst Richard Ko said that it is quite likely that HTC may launch a tablet either during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January or the Mobile World Congress in February.