BTis planning to launch a competition to Apple ’s iPad that will be used in the place , rather than on the go .

According toThe Guardian , BT unveiled a epitome of the mini PC to City analysts this hebdomad .

The telecoms giant hopes the as - yet - unknown gadget will boost home plate owners to coldcock their even landline telephone in favor of these touchscreen versions that also offer access to the web .

“ It is like a miniskirt - microcomputer with the telephone of the future . Someone also made a reference to it being a bit like the iPad but it is not . It is a different size and shape aside from anything else , but it is signify to stay in the home , ” BT chief executive Ian Livingston tell the paper .

However , Livingston did admit there were a turn of similarities with Apple ’s devices , including visual voicemail , access to e - ring armour and school text electronic messaging and even the ability to download apps that offer entropy such as news and conditions reports .

The Guardian said the gadget ’s dimensions were somewhere between those of the Apple ’s iPod touching and the iPad .

It features a verbaliser which allows owners to utilise the telephony deftness , or alternatively , it can be paired with a Bluetooth headset .

“ Clearly people want to utilise their earphone in a dissimilar agency . We have learn that with smartphones outside the home base . So we have been developing a construct around how you get that sort of capability into an in - menage environment . Obviously you could make telephone calls through it , but it also has a touchscreen , ” added BT Retail chief administrator Gavin Patterson

“ What we have see is people really like to expend it in the kitchen because it is always on and they can just snack on their communications and snack on their video clips , ” said Patterson .

While BT admit it has developed the software itself , the companionship would n’t identify who it had been go with on developing the hardware .

The telecommunication goliath say it would sell the twist to consumers directly and it is probable to bundle with a broadband and phone bundle .

BT also unwrap it also plan to offer a game service in the UK later this class , which will take into account gamers to play in vogue releases on the web . They wo n’t command a cabinet such as Playstation 3 . rather , they ’ll but need a TV and controller .