Research in Motion's 7-Inch 'PlayBook' Tablet to Target Business Users
Research in Motion today announced a new 7-inch tablet device known as the BlackBerry PlayBook. The business-focused tablet, set for launch early next year, will offer a dual-core 1GHz, Cortex A9 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 1024 x 600 display with capacitive multi-touch capabilities, front (3-megapixel) and rear (5-megapixel) cameras, and support for 1080p video output over HDMI.
Perfect for either large organizations or an "army of one", the BlackBerry PlayBook is designed to give users what they want, including uncompromised web browsing, true multitasking and high performance multimedia, while also providing advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a breakthrough development platform for IT departments and developers. The incredibly powerful and innovative BlackBerry PlayBook is truly a game-changing product in the growing tablet marketplace.
Pricing and other details are yet to be announced, although the PlayBook will apparently initially be available only as a Wi-Fi models, with the company planning to launch 3G and 4G models in the future. The Wi-Fi PlayBook will, however, be able to tether through BlackBerry phones for access on the go.Research in Motion has been looking for ways to maintain its prominent position among business users as Apple's iPhone has begun to gain traction in corporate settings. Consequently, the company is placing a strong emphasis on PlayBook's ability to seamlessly integrate with users' existing BlackBerry devices to allow them to easily use whichever device is appropriate at any given time without needing to worry about syncing or duplication of data.
Seeking to capitalize on the booming mobile advertising industry, Research in Motion also announced a new mobile ad platform for BlackBerry. Rather than launching its own ad service as Apple has done with iAd, however, Research in Motion's tools will assist developers with integrating content from existing mobile ad firms into their applications.
At launch, the BlackBerry Advertising Service will offer developers and advertisers the opportunity to work with many advertising networks including Amobee, Jumptap, Lat49, Millennial Media and Mojiva. Advertising networks such as Buzzcity, NavTeq, Placecast, Sympatico, Transpera, Where and xAD, as well as rich media advertising platform Medialets, are expected to join the service in the coming months.
The new SDK tools are available to developers immediately.Top Rated Comments
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Erm, Wifi-only? How does an initial WiFi-only model make any sense from an enterprise standpoint (if this actually targets "Business Users"). Wouldn't it need 3G to integrate with existing BESs?
No need for multiple 3G connections
The Wi-Fi PlayBook will, however, be able to tether through BlackBerry phones for access on the go.
What can you say about this?
All that money - all those suits - and no imagination anywhere to be found.
Nobody complaining about the lack of keyboard? Bwahahaha!
App Rocking - my ass Lol.
Let's see how it feels in the hand, and in use, before anyone gets too carried away with any prognostications about this particular device though.
That said, on the surface it seems pretty slick. After all, they've had nearly a year to copy large-format iOS and even longer to copy WebOS. :cool:
Meanwhile I've been happily using an iPad since Day 1, and will happily upgrade to newer models as they inevitably appear.
We know there's no technical limitations that would have prevented Bluetooth pairing between the iPad and the iPhone, but rather that Apple didn't want to piss off it's carrier partners or allow the Wi-Fi version to completely cannibalize the stand-alone 3G sales.
But that's the thing. How many people would have gotten a Wi-Fi iPad instead of a 3G iPad if they knew the Wi-Fi version could tether to their iPhone via Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi? That's right.
This is a huge feature for RIM and good on them for exploiting the market opportunity.
Apple will probably consider introducing this feature in the future, but it will likely be artificially tied to future hardware to access.
It also, incidentally, validates some of the iPad's design decisions that were criticized early on. Like that huge bezel. How many of you complained about the bezel when you first saw the pictures of the iPad? Now we undestand why it's needed.
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