Hands-on with BlackBerry PlayBook Bridge [video]

By on Jan 7, 2011 at 7:19 PM
CES January 7, 2011

Following our press briefing with the PlayBook early today, we wanted to get a bit more up-close and personal with the BlackBerry Bridge software. Bridge, for those that don’t know, is the bit of technology that connects the BlackBerry handset to the PlayBook and allows for the use of BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry Email, and BlackBerry Calendar on the PlayBook itself. For the time being, Bridge will provide the PlayBook with all of its email, calendar, and BBM functionality — there are no stand-alone applications on the device. You read that correctly: without a BlackBerry on hand, you won’t be able to access any of your BlackBerry-specific messaging software. Don’t get us started. Regardless of this fact, RIM was kind enough to give us a demo of the Bridge connection and, for what it is, it works just as advertised. Any edits on the PlayBook are mirrored on your Berry, and vice versa. Drafts saved are accessible on both, and because all of the data is routed through the BlackBerry’s data connection, all Enterprise policies will remain secure and intact, which is definitely a concern for security minded companies looking to integrate tablets into their corporate environment. All told, Bridge does exactly what Bridge is supposed to do… the only question is whether you can live with having to tether your tablet every time you want to send a message.

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  • ComeToTerms

    ComeToTerms…
    shame on the PlayBook. I expected RIM to fall years ago when it almost did. It bounced back and here we are at the brim of collapse. RIM will no longer be able to compete against the likes of Apple and Android. Nokia and Symbian are on the same path. Trying to force ppl into BB phones in order to have this is a negative. It won’t work. I would love to see them erased. It’s an AppleDroid world.

  • http://twitter.com/don_poky Shz

    I just hate BGR. They should change the website name or content to Apple products and stick their ass to it. If you are blogging something about the tech, you should balance the facts.

  • Blah

    “without a BlackBerry on hand, you won’t be able to access any of your BlackBerry-specific messaging software. Don’t get us started.”

    Why didnt you ask them right then jerk?

  • Nickv4444

    what a BUNCH of IDIOTS RIM IS. NO stand alone functionality are the INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!! That a way blackberry you will never get any new people to come over to your platform….THIS HAS TO BE THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!!!

    • http://www.justincredible.net Justin Credible

      And how do you expect to use an Apple iPoo to get access to BBM and BB email? Jesus…get a grip and use common sense. OF COURSE it needs a Blackberry attached with a BLACKBERRY data plan, duh.

      Would you rather it required its own BB plan, so you can pay yet ANOTHER bill every month? This thing is going to use existing data plans…it’s genius, and awesome. And I like Android too.

  • uCosom

    YOU DON’T NEED A BLACKBERRY PHONE TO USE A PLAYBOOK!! BGR, you aren’t doing a very good job at explaining the functionality and interoperability. If it’s too technologically challenging for you, then stick with reporting on Apple and Android devices.

    Seriously, reading all of these posts shows that most of you guys just don’t get it. It’s like trying to talk to Homer Simpson about String Theory. If you had people that understood how technology, software, integration and implementation really works and what’s involved in making that happen, you might have a small glimmer of hope that they’d understand.

    • Nickv4444

      Maybe someday someone could be as smart as you? Lets keep it simple does each Playbook come with its own pin # like the Blackberry Phones? Can you use BBM on the Playbook without having the tablet tethered to a Blackberry phone? To my knowledge you need a BBerry phone tethered (using their new software bridge) to use the Playbook in such a way. If this is in fact true (this is only one example of many) they are making a HUGE mistake…It does not take a genius (like yourself of course) to figure that out!

  • zps

    my goodness, the policy about keeping the apps on the separate blackberry is going to kill this thing.

  • Idiots

    hey douchebags, you may want to head over to crackberry and see the video for yourselves where RIM clearly states that native PIM apps are on the way.

  • http://caspan.com Caspan

    BGR you are one of the worst reporters ever on a device! This so far is a Wifi only tablet of course you don’t have access to your RIM data or to a BES server. once the 3G or 4G version comes out then you will be able to connect. Man if you guys spent half the time researching what to talk about that you do trying to find ways to slam RIM you might actually sound smart!

    You guys are idiots! If you want to be respected as a true informational resource then stop writing like you currently do!

  • http://caspan.com Caspan

    I’m surprised you did not ask about the battery life being only 2 hours!

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