Google AndroidGoogle may have selected Motorola’s upcoming 7-inch “Motopad” tablet as its flagship Android 3.0 device, according to Mobile Review’s Eldar Murtazin.

While still unconfirmed (we’ve dropped a line to Google, but don’t expect to hear back), Murtazin has historically been a reliable source for major mobile news. The news is also believable since rumors of Motorola tablets running Android 3.0 have been swirling about for months. Given how much Motorola helped rocket Android to mainstream success last year with the Droid, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Google turn to the company to help cement Android tablets as legitimate iPad competitors.

Android 3.0, which goes by the codename “Honeycomb”, is said to be more tablet friendly than any current Android release, including the upcoming Android 2.3 update. We’ve also reported that LG and Lenovo have delayed their Android tablet development until next year to take advantage of Android 3.0. Google is expected to release the update some time in the first half of 2011.

Thus far, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab has been the most polished Android tablet released — even though it’s running Android 2.2. But reviews of the Tab have been mixed, with most of its problems apparently stemming from Android 2.2’s deficiencies as a tablet platform.

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