Over the summer, Microsoft hinted at a tablet offering by the end of the year.  A recent comment from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer reiterates that promise, as we can expect to see a tablet from the software giant by Christmas.

“You’ll see new slates with Windows on them. You’ll see them this Christmas,” he said during a talk at the London School of Economics, Digits  reported. Few other details were provided, so there’s no word on a launch date, manufacturer partners or pricing.

Microsoft has already unveiled some details regarding its Windows Phone 7 launch, naming a date only this week.  Early distribution partners include T-Mobile and AT&T, making it the second time the wireless service provider was selected for a major release from hopefull Apple competitors.

As far as the tablet market goes, offering one of your own is the thing to do.  Especially as the consumer market and advertisers cozy up to the holiday shopping season.  While retailers have lowered sales expectations, consumer electronics tend to make a killing no matter what.  The iPad has set some high standards for tablets, and the stalled market for alternatives is mimicking the iPhone game of catch-up we saw with smartphones.

Good thing Apple’s competitors have a platform this time around.  It will aid in bringing tablets to market faster, but anything Microsoft reveals this year will need to be pretty full-featured to truly compete.  What we’ve seen from Android tablets has been less than stellar, with others like Cisco and RIM getting into the tablet market as well.  It’s already a crowded space Microsoft is battling, despite its own long-standing presence from a software perspective.

One thing we do know about Microsoft’s tablet plans is that it’s sure to tie into the company’s overall cloud initiatives.  From personal to enterprise, the cloud is going to help drive the consumer market at nearly every level, addressing a number of industries that utilize connected technology in any way.  This stance has been reflected in several decisions and product announcements Microsoft has made in the past year, spanning Office to Xbox.