If you're a fan of Samsung's Galaxy Note and its large 5.3-inch display, you'll be glad to hear that ZTE is planning to release a similar pair of phone-tablet hybrid devices later this year. The company recently told reporters that it intends to launch two "phablet" devices before the end of this year, with Lv Qianhao, ZTE's head of handset strategy, explaining that ZTE wants "to come up with the next generation of a Galaxy Note-type product - a combo product of handsets and tablets." ZTE also plans to upgrade its existing Blade and Skate smartphone models rather than debuting completely new lines. The firm shipped a total of 15 million smartphones last year, and ZTE thinks that that number could grow to 100 million by 2015.

The Galaxy Note has been a bit of a polarizing device since its debut thanks to its large size, but Samsung recently announced that it's moved five million Notes worldwide since last October, so obviously there's demand for phone-tablet hybrids like the Note. While it's not yet clear exactly what kind of specs ZTE's Galaxy Note competitors might include or if they'll ever make it to U.S. shores, it'll definitely be interesting to see what ZTE can cook up. Would any of you be interested in a ZTE-made "phablet" device?

Via Phone Scoop, Reuters