Sony says it wants to come in second place – behind Apple – in number of tablet computers sold by next year. But it’s already 2011 and Sony seems on a slow pace given that it did not introduce a tablet at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, now underway in Las Vegas.

Other technology companies have or will soon jump into the tablet race with rival Apple.

Motorola and T-Mobile are expected to start selling their new tablets later this year. They are based on Google’s Android system, according to TechZone360.

In addition, Samsung has released the Galaxy Tab and Research in Motion has shown off the PlayBook at CES.

Reuters is reporting that Sony CEO Howard Stringer said that Sony wants to differentiate itself among its competitors – and that that may mean its tablet will be released later. For example, he said Sony is considering whether its forthcoming tablet should have 3D, according to Reuters.

At least one industry analyst said Sony turning into second-biggest maker of tablets by next year is a “difficult” goal, according to a report from Reuters.

"It would be extremely difficult to come up with products that are different from the others and to steal market share from the far-and-away front-runner, Apple," T.I.W. senior analyst Takao Hattori told Reuters in an interview. "To attract consumers, Sony would have to come up with features that are totally unexpected.”

Apple introduced the iPad last year which has been wildly successful and led many of its rivals to design their own tablets.

In a related matter, Stringer said during the CES he was not in the running to be chairman of the BBC. The Daily Telegraph  had reported Stringer was asked to take over the chairmanship of the BBC.

Digital Spy reports that the list of candidates to become next chairman of the BBC, replacing Michael Lyons, has been reduced to six names.