With a US carrier in place, the Google tablet will soon become more than just a rumour.

There have been whispers of a Google tablet since the iPad launch, but the concept finally got some steam today with confirmation that US carrier Verizon is working with Google to get the device to market.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon’s CEO Lowell MacAdam said that the carrier is working with Google on creating a tablet device that will likely run Android rather than the Chrome OS.

While MacAdam told the WSJ that he could not comment on timing of the device, in order to relevant in the market, it would likely need to launch before the end of the year.

Google declined to comment on the remarks, but with the growing tension between Google and Apple, the company no doubt wants to compete for market share with the iPad.

As other manufacturers ready their tablets for market, the iPad still has the only hold on the tablet market, meaning that tablet manufacturers, including Google, will have to scramble to play catch-up with their devices.  

Speaking to the WSJ, MacAdam acknowledged that the company is behind AT&T in the tablet market and said, “They were able to get out of the box faster.”

But he said the Google tablet would offer tablet users unique features and added, “We’re looking at all the things Google has in its archives that we could put on a tablet to make it a great experience.”