The Apple iPhone was not the first cell phone to be equipped with a touchscreen display, nor is it the least expensive offering with that particular feature. However, it is quite clear that it was the iPhone that popularized the format. We could be on the cusp of the same phenomenon, thanks to the rumored upcoming announcement of an Apple iSlate tablet computer.

While it certainly won’t get the same level of media attention as its Apple counterpart, the tablet computer from Freescale could point toward the future of that industry and that niche. Looking much like the MIDs and UMPCs that have largely flown under the radar for the last couple of years, the yet-unnamed Freescale tablet features a 7-inch touchscreen display and your choice of either the Linus or Android operating system.

The tablet computer also comes equipped with a 1GHZ i.MX515 processor, a three-axis accelerometer (tilt sensor), 512MB of DDR2 RAM, between 4GB and 64GB of storage via the microSD card slot, integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, GPS, 3G connectivity, built-in speakers, a three megapixel camera, and a 1900mAh battery. The device itself measures just 128mm thick.

There is no word on the exact pricing scheme just yet, but many are saying that the Freescale tablet could retail for less than $200 when it hits the market later this year. The optimistic release schedule says this summer, though that may change.