CHINESE consumers will soon be able to choose from a host of 3G-capable tablet personal computers, including Apple's iPad, Google Android-based devices and those which support phone functions, when they debut next year in the domestic market, Shanghai Daily learned from a telecommunications forum held by Qualcomm.

Cheaper 3G smart phones costing less than 1,000 yuan (US$149) will also help boost the 3G penetration rate in China, the world's biggest mobile phone market, said Qualcomm, the world's No. 1 telecom chip designer.

"China will be top worldwide by the rate of growth in 3G penetration due to 3G phones and pads (tablets)," Wang Xiang, Qualcomm China's president, said yesterday.

Device makers from Huawei Technologies, ZTE, Lenovo Mobile to ViewSonic displayed their tablets and phones during the forum held yesterday in Beijing.

ViewSonic's 7-inch Android-based tablet PC allows users to make phone calls directly on the 3G WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) network. Its device, which will debut next year, also supports normal computer functions such as Internet browsing, picture viewing and gaming.

Chinese firms, including Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo, will launch tablets to tap the booming mobile Internet market after iPad's debut in the Chinese mainland in September.

Lenovo's tablet will be available in the market "within a month," according to the country's No. 1 PC maker.

Apple, which now sells only the Wi-Fi iPad on the mainland, has been approved to launch its iPad 3G version, media said recently. The 3G iPad allows users access to the Internet anywhere and at anytime without relying only on free Wi-Fi hot spots.