When Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility is complete it will have three tablets in its house, the smallest being the 8.2-inch Xyboard. However, Google is also eying producing a 7-inch tablet, according to CNET.

A DisplaySearch analyst told CNET that such a Google-branded tablet, with 1280×800 resolution, could enter the market later this year and that production is slated for April. The 7-inch Amazon Kindle Fire has a 1024×600 display, CNET noted.

The possible entrance of yet another tablet maty force marketers and retailers to rethink investments in T-commerce and related site design—especially with the forthcoming iPad 3 expected on the market soon.

Where Does the 7-inch Fit In?

However the iPad 3 is not likely to be a 7-inch device, leaving companies in a quandary. While the design changes are slight depending on the screen size, they do matter.

For the moment, the safest bet is to assume that the iPad will remain the default tablet purchase for most consumers and businesses.  Almost 3 in 5 “tablet-committed buyers,” defined as consumers committed to buying a tablet but undecided on a brand, end up buying an iPad, according to a Maritz Research survey released in December 2011.

The Amazon Kindle Fire (45%) dominates the “low-end buyers” segment, defined as consumers who want to spend less than $250 on their purchase, although 16% end up buying an iPad.

Small businesses as well as inclined to the iPad. 73% of US small and medium businesses (SMBs) with fewer than 1000 employees plan to purchase a tablet in the next 12 months, according to The NPD Group’s Q3 SMB Technology Monitor, representing a 7% rise from 68% in Q2. The iPad is the most considered tablet among those firms planning an upcoming purchase.