Amazon is expected to take Apple’s iPad head on with the launch of a larger Kindle Fire, this one spanning 10 inches

According to a DigiTimes report, Foxconn has received orders for a 10 inch Kindle Fire that should begin shipping in the second quarter of 2012. The tablet will be opposed by Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet, which is being produced by Wistron.

The current Kindle Fire spans 7″, features a dual core processor and uses the Android operating system, although heavily tweaked to Amazon’s preferences.

Competition in the tablet market is heating up following the launch of Motorola’s Xoom 2 today, an iPad 3 expected in March and a rumoured 8″ iPad variant.