BlackBerry Aims the PlayBook at Business

There are an absolutely uncountable number of mobile phones on the market. With advancements in technology, and the fact that mobile technologies have grown to be highly disposable, new devices arrive on the market every day. Within those available mobile devices, the smartphone is increasingly popular. The iPhone and Android continue to be the buzz when it comes to discussing application availability and features. However, when it comes to the corporate arena, Blackberry still continues to dominate. Now with the evolution of pad and tablet based computing devices, Blackberry's manufacturer RIM is ready to take its take on the touchpad to the workplace.

Arriving much smaller, close to half the size than the currently popular iPad, RIM's (Research in Motion Ltd.) PlayBook will have a 7" screen with dual mounted cameras, one front - and one back. If that isn't appealing in a slightly compact package, the PlayBook will also have the built-in ability to use its own internal screen as an external screen for a wirelessly linked BlackBerry. With the tables turned, the BlackBerry will be able to allow Web access to the PlayPad through cellular service, when a Wi-Fi signal is not available.

The PlayBook, however, is powerful device in its own right. Using a proprietary operating system, the tablet device is capable of running existing Blackberry applications. Although the device is questionably not running the latest OS of buzz, Android, RIM hopes to make the PlayBook a standard corporate device. Analysts and company insiders agree that the company is in a great position to fill corporate tablet based computing needs.

Interestingly, RIM is not only focusing its PlayBook efforts at corporate America. Certainly any mobile device is capable of entertainment to some degree, however, RIM has been reportedly involved with Electronic Arts in promoting the PlayBook, and Amazon has also announced plans to offer a version of its Kindle software to run on the tablet that is powered by an OS developed by QNX Software Systems.

In short, here is how consumers can expect the PlayBook to be configured upon arrival. A 7" LCD WSVGA 1024 x 600 touchscreen, a GHz dual-core CPU, 1 GB RAM dual HD cameras 3MP front - 5MP back, HDMI video out, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. It is reported that RIM has plans for both 3G and 4G models to be available in the near future

Sources/Resources:

Yahoo! News:BlackBerry maker offers tablet aimed at businesses

BlackBerry PlayBook Revealed: RIM's Answer to the Tablet Boom