Archos launching Android Internet Media Tablet

Multimedia device maker Archos has announced plans to launch an Internet Media Tablet (IMT) based on Google's Android platform.

Well, they say it'll merge the "Android telephony stack and ARCHOS’ multimedia framework", so it's a bit unclear whether that means the full Android OS, as we know it.

But anyway, the device is pretty interesting. It's a tablet with a five-inch screen and full web browser, including Flash and Flash Video support.

It'll have up to 500GB of storage, promises battery life of seven hours, and will have a built-in 3.5G USPA modem, all powered by an OMAP3440 processor from Texas Instruments.

Due out in the third quarter of this year, it promises to let users access TV, movies, photos, music and games. That could be an interesting new opportunity for high-end Android games developers, then, although they may grimace at the prospect of adapting their games for a five-inch widescreen.

"We are continuing to advance our efforts in the IMT space with the introduction of this new product,” says Archos CEO Henri Crohas.

"Support for an Android-based device represents a historical opportunity for ARCHOS to combine all the best of our IMTs with a phone in a single device delivering high quality video and a full web experience in true mobility."

Indeed. No news on pricing yet, or which operator partners Archos will be working with to sell the product. Its previous IMT, the Archos 5, was launched by SFR in France.