Germany's Siemens also used the show here to show off the SIMpad, a prototype WebPad-like tablet device.

CNN: Technology - Ericsson's entry revitalizes WebPad scene

National Semiconductor originally introduced the WebPad wireless tablet concept at the Comdex Fall show in Las Vegas in 1998.

CNN: Technology - Ericsson's entry revitalizes WebPad scene

RSC's WebPad device, for example, features a 10-inch 800 x 600 pixel super VGA touch-screen and is encased in a frame that has buttons for controlling the cursor and other commands.

CNN: Technology - Ericsson's entry revitalizes WebPad scene

At National Semiconductor's stand at CeBIT, a dozen or so WebPad vendors were displaying products based around the chip maker's integrated Geode processors and running operating systems ranging from Linux and QNX to Windows CE.

CNN: Technology - Ericsson's entry revitalizes WebPad scene

Banks may even be willing to give away WebPad devices featuring pre-installed banking applications to its customers for free, while ISPs are looking at business models such as subsidizing the cost of the device to make the initial purchase price more attractive for consumers, he added.

CNN: Technology - Ericsson's entry revitalizes WebPad scene