According to the Wall Street Journal, Google is planning to launch an online retail store for Google-branded tablets.

Google already tried a similar approach with the Nexus One, but it dropped the service a few months later, after it became apparent that the original Nexus wasn’t really selling that well.

WSJ claims the new online store will be used solely to sell future Android tablets, co-branded with Google’s name. Asus and Samsung are said to be delivering the goods. We already talked about the upcoming 7-inch Google tablet based on the Asus MeMo 370T, but we still have nothing on any Samsung devices. Of course, the rumour mill will churn something out sooner or later. [Let’s start some right now, quad-core Exynos 4412 with Mali T604 graphics, 10.1-inch full HD screen. Ed]

Although Android phone sales are going through the roof, the same can hardly be said of Android tablet sales. Google still has a good chance to turn things around, namely in the low-end market, but with the Windows 8 launch drawing near, there is not much time to spare.

More here.