LG hasn’t exactly been the most successful smartphone manufacturer these past couple of years and has been constantly overshadowed by the likes of Samsung or HTC (not to mention Apple). Tablet development has gone wrong for the Koreans, who’ve only released one such product during 2011, unveiling another one this year.

Last year’s 8.9-inch Optimus Pad has been almost completely ignored by Android tech users, while the new Optimus Pad LTE, who still doesn’t have a release date attached to its name or an official price. It has even less chances of achieving any kind of success while in the wake of the aforementioned marketing disaster.

Although we’ve been suspecting LG to up its ante in the tablet world in the near future, a Bloomberg report seems to shatter any hopes we might have had for seeing a truly competitive slate from the Seoul-based company anytime soon.

“We’ve decided to put all new tablet development on the back burner for the time being in order to focus on smartphones.” said Ken Hong, one of LG’s spokesmen, in an exclusive talk with Bloomberg. While Hong didn’t want to elaborate on what “time being” could mean, it’s safe to assume that we won’t be seeing LG unveil or release any new tablets aside from the Optimus Pad LTE at least by the end of 2012. It's also possible that LG has even pulled the plug on the second-generation Optimus Pad, but it's doubtful.

And while on one hand we’re a bit shocked to see them give up so easily on a market niche growing at an accelerated pace, we can understand the strategy LG is trying to follow.

Aside from Apple, who’s been dominating the niche practically from its inception with the iPads, the tablet market is set to face greater competition than ever this year, with the Windows-powered Surface being unveiled yesterday, Google’s Nexus Tablet closing in on its introduction and Amazon prepping a new line of Kindle Fires. Would have LG had a shot in such a crowded group? Probably not, which is why it’s probably for the best for them to give and concentrate on a market they can possibly win.

LG’s most recent Optimus L line of smartphones, as well as the Optimus LTE2, the Optimus 4X HD and the “Eclipse” are the devices that could drive sales forward for the company’s mobile department.

Do you think that LG is doing the right thing by putting tablet development “on the back burner”? How about the company’s current and future line of smartphones? Could they help close the popularity gap between LG and the likes of Samsung, HTC or Apple? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.