Is a US$99 Google Nexus 7 tablet arriving later this year?

Google Nexus 7

If you fancied a slice of Android Jelly Bean but can't quite bring yourself to part with £199 for the Google Nexus 7 16GB model, you might be in luck. Rumours doing the rounds report the existence of a US$99 version coming this year.

DigiTimes reports that Google and Asus are working on two new Nexus tablets for release this year. The first will be a slimmer version of the current Nexus 7 Tablet, in case the current model is too fat for you, and the second will be somehow cut enough corners to hit a sub-US$100 price point.

Presumably the tablet would be sold at a loss with a view to making money out of apps, movie, music and book sales (the Gillette principle), but would other corners be cut in creating the ultimate budget tablet.

With Apple allegedly set to lift the lid on an iPad Mini, it makes sense for Google to pre-emptively strike back and a tablet priced at rock bottom would make it very difficult to construct a convincing case for shelling out on Apple's premium price wares. We live in hope for a tablet price war.

[via BGR]