German company launches their own 'iPad'

A small German company is taking on US giant Apple with its own version of the iPad.

Neofonie which is based in Berlin has design the WePad which is a touch-screen computer.

The WePad is designed by the medium sized firm of 180 staff and is being manufactured in Asia.

The WePad has two USB gateways and is fitted with a webcam allowing users to access video-conferencing software such as Skype.

Helmut Hoffer Von Ankershoffen, Neofonie's manager says things are already looking positive, "we already have more than 20,000 pre-order registrations directly from consumers who are saying: I am going to buy that thing as soon as possible, just tell me when I can have it."

Moritz Metz, a technology journalist who works for Deutschland radio Kultur, said he had tested Apple's new iPad for the past week.

"If you want to make a device which performs as well as the iPad, it really is very fast and Apple spent a lot of money on these chips which are in there. They bought a company and spent huge amounts of money. Neofonie can't claim that and the WePad can't achieve that."

Prices for the "WePad" start at 449 euros for a Wi-Fi device with 16GB while the 32 GB version with Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS and full HD video costs 569 euros.