Verizon, the iPad and Google

Verizon has big plans for the tablet marketplace – maybe bigger than they’re willing to talk about right now.

The telecom giant held a press conference Wednesday showing off an app that would stream live television and on-demand programming to the iPad for FiOS customers. The application, which also allows customers to see which shows are most popular with viewers in real-time, is expected to be available next year.

Verizon hopes to extend the app beyond the iPad eventually, but the initial push will be on the Apple device. It’s already in talks with content providers to get permission to stream the programs within subscribers’ homes and doesn’t expect to face any significant hurdles.

Meanwhile, rumors began making the rounds today that Verizon and Google would launch Google’s in-the-works Chrome OS tablet in November. Download Squad reports the device will go on sale Nov. 26 – Black Friday. Whispers indicate the device will be subsidized with a Verizon subscription – which will make it significantly cheaper than the iPad.

Verizon and Google, of course, have been growing tighter lately as Droid sales increase and, separately, with their net neutrality proposal.