Ian Peng, an analyst with DigiTimes Research, observed that the most successful smartphone makers can adapt handset operating systems to tablet PCs, easily get parts and reuse some of the basic display technology for the slightly large portable devices, PC World.com reports.
He said that Apple, which delivered the iPad leading the tablet market shortly after the iPhone release, is an example of what is to come.
"The iPhone and iPad are just different in their touch panel size," he remarked.
According to Mr Peng, consumers are likely to see a strong connection between the two types of touchscreen device.
"People buy their smartphone first and then the tablet," Peng said. "Why? It's the user experience."
Established in 1998, DigiTimes is a daily newspaper for semiconductor, electronics, computer and communications industries in Taiwan and the Greater China region.
