Sony has confirmed that it will be launching an Android Honeycomb-powered tablet by the end of the summer.

“Sony plans to release a tablet computer by the end of summer, the Nikkei newspaper reported, citing chief executive officer Howard Stringer,” reports Bloomberg.

The tablet will run Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb software, and will be sold in the US first, the report said. However it didn’t detail whether or not it would be coming to the UK with the same time frame.

While Sony is always keen to roll out products at the same time around the globe, it’s yet to release its Google TV offering in the UK following a US launch in 2010, suggesting that a delayed launch could happen again.

The news confirms earlier rumours that Sony is working on a tablet device.

In February, “a pair of highly trusted and proven sources” told Engadget that: “Sony is also working on two rather unconventional tablet form factors including a dual-screen Honeycomb clamshell and newfangled Windows 7 tablet slider.” 

Other rumours suggest that the Sony tablet could be the single-screen offering also rumoured. It supposedly has a 9.4-inch, Android 3.0 touting machine that is currently going under the knife by various Sony development teams (PlayStation, Vaio, Reader and Sony Ericsson too) and is ultimately being led by the Vaio team. Although chances are that it won't come to market as a Vaio device.

We will keep you posted.