First HP webOS Tablet Shipping March Tip Insiders

The first shipments of HP's initial webOS tablet will begin in March 2011, though it's unlikely to reach consumers straight away, according to the latest whispers out of Taipei. DigiTimes' sources claim Inventec will begin ODM production of the first webOS slate at the end of Q3 2011, whereupon it will head to HP for software testing.

The first of several webOS slates – the company tipped to be using webOS as "the mainstream" of their tablet strategy – it's unclear if the model in question is the HP Topaz or HP Opal we saw leaked details of yesterday, or another model as HP implies is also imminent. The company is expected to make its first announcements on February 9 2011.