As had long been expected, Google Inc. yesterday used its I/O developer conference in San Francisco to introduce the world to its challenger to the iPad - the Nexus 7.

The $199 Google-branded Nexus 7 table computer features a 7-inch screen and runs on latest version of the Android operating system, codenamed Jelly Bean.

Google has produced the Google Nexus 7 tablet in partnership with Taiwan-based Asustek Computer Inc. The new tablet features a front-facing camera, a Tegra 3 processor from NVIDIA Corp., a 12-core GPU, an accelerometer and an electronic gyro, support for NFC technology, dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth.

Google Play will equip the tablet with tools that will make it easier for Nexus 7 owners to download TV shows, movies and digital books.

The Google Nexus 7 tablet will be available in July.

The fast-growing, lucrative tablet market has elude almost all of the major electronics gadgets makers, but no single tablet has so far succeeded in making a significant dent in the popularity of Apple's iPad.

According to research firm DisplaySearch, global tablet market will hit $78.7 billion by the end of current year, considerably up from $44.9 billion last year.

Stock in Mountain View, Calif.-based Google gained around 1 per cent to $569.30-a-share at the close in New York on Wednesday.