It seems as if HP is joining in the touch screen bandwagon. After Asus announced their touch screen Eee PC, we now receive news that HP is aspiring for one of their own. The Wall Street Journal reported that HP plans to release a touch-screen-enabled laptop by year’s end. Price and exact release date are unavailable at this time.

Last year HP released the TouchSmart IQ770 and this year the IQ506. Both are touch-screen desktops that were HP’s first major forays into the technology. According to the article, the new laptop is only the latest in a series of touch-oriented devices, including an upcoming line of cell phones that will become a priority of HP’s consumer strategy.

HP is said to be working on a line of consumer cell phones that feature touch screens and the first such phone will be introduced in Europe this year. HP plans to start selling the phones through a U.S. cellular carrier within the next year or so.