1M BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, 800K Motorola XOOMs on order for Q1 according to report

By on Jan 14, 2011 at 1:13 PM
Tablets January 14, 2011

According to an unconfirmed report, Chinese manufacturer Quanta Computer will build and ship over 1 million BlackBerry PlayBook tablets for RIM in the first quarter of 2011. DigiTimes cites industry sources in reporting the numbers, and also states that Quanta will ship between 700,000 and 800,000 Motorola XOOM tablets in Q1. The report claims RIM will launch the Wi-Fi-only version of the PlayBook in March, with 3G and 4G versions to follow in the second quarter. The report also claims, however, that Motorola will begin offering an “LTE version” of the XOOM tablet in the second quarter of this year after launching the 3G model in Q1. This assertion is inaccurate according to Motorola, which said its XOOM tablet would only gain 4G LTE connectivity using a forthcoming modem attachment. BGR published a lengthy hands-on video demonstration of the BlackBerry PlayBook in December, and we played with it again at CES in early January. The QNX-based tablet managed to impress us on both occasions. We also checked out the Android Honeycomb-powered Motorola XOOM tablet at CES and it was quite impressive as well.

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  • Anonymous

    External modem attachment for 4g? Fail. I really wanted a 4g version too.

    • Anonymous

      It’s only a fail because it’s not true. Moto reps at CES confirmed that it would be an internal upgrade, done at Verizon stores with a service center.

  • AndroidWins

    Waiting… waiting…, for all the apple fanboys to hail king Jobs and the maxiPad and how much better it is than everything else.

    • StevenGlansburg

      Rather than discussing your excitement for the Xoom, YOU, and android fanboy to the max, brought up the ipad. You sound envious. If you want an ipad its ok, just get one.

      • AndroidWins

        Ha, winner winner. I knew there would be one roaming about. Come on, let’s have it. Tell us how great apple is and how terrible the Xoom is, even though the specs and OS blow it out of the water.

  • http://twitter.com/ChazClout ChazClout

    2011 looks to be the year of the tablets, riding on the iPad’s success. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the Honeycomb offerings in future.

  • Anonymous

    I can see Motorola actually selling 800K of these tablets by June. Android users suggested that the iPad was merely a large iPod Touch. Then they realized that everyone else would once again follow Apple’s lead into a market and now they all want one.

    RIM, I don’t see them selling a million by June.

    The market for Tablets is very small in comparison to the Smart Phone market.

    Android manufacturers compete with one another in the Smart Phone market and stay viable because the market can sustain multiples of manufacturers. The Tablet market is small in comparison.

    Acer
    ASUS
    Dell
    HP
    RIM
    Samsung
    Toshiba
    MSI

    …………and all of the companies that I missed in there that showed Tablets at CES.

    There will be one company at the end of 2011 dominating the Tablet market and it is the same company that dominated the Tablet market in 2010.

    That is just the way it is.

    • Goread

      Apparently you’ve read nothing about how much the tablet market is expected to grow in 2011

      • Anonymous

        To you and the person that likes your comment.

        I have read plenty about how the Tablet Market is set to grow this year.

        2010 Tablet shipments 17.1 million
        2011 Estimates for Tablet 57 million

        So, let us work with 60 million just to round it up and give you (and the ignorant person liking your comment) some more rope.

        Let us suggest that Apple plans on building only 3 million iPad’s (iPad2′s or whatever) a month. That would suggest Apple represents 36 million of the 60 million tablets to be shipped.

        Now we have 24 million left (at most) you have to divide that 24 million between at least 10 manufacturers.

        2.4 million a piece (being fair suggesting that they each sell the same amount.

        Now Apple is clearly going to be able to buy components cheaper because they are buying for more devices. So Apple has wiggle room on pricing. People buying iPads will not be considering another device (for the most part)

        These other manufacturers are going to have to compete with one another on price because there is nothing different about their device (save RIM’s PlayBook, and HP’s offerings perhaps).

        The problem, their entry level pricing is really as low as they can go to sustain their tablet offerings. Companies will have to take a pretty big loss if they are going to chase market share.

        The Tablet Market is small, growing yes, tripling this year even, yes but still small.

        60 million tablets or 400 million smart phones?

        One most manufacturers can sustain themselves and participate, the other will ruin the smaller companies and cause a big loss for the others. One or two companies besides Apple will be able to expand their Tablet presence after 2011 is over.

        Vist more sites than BGR, Engadget and Gizmodo. There is a wealth of information out there and if you type questions into the Google search bar you will receive answers.

      • Private Citizen

        Nice voodoo math. Since most of these tablets will be released after March (let’s say beginning of March for readers like you), the total shipment of 57 million (this is just one estimate, the actual size could be much greater) should be divided by 9 months, not 12. BTW, how did you come up with 3 million iPADs? With more competition in the market, you can’t just assume Apple will keep going on its merry way. Even Apple is not immune to competition. This aside, however, the operative word here is SHIPMENT, meaning shipment to the carriers, not sales to end customers. It is highly conceivable that RIM will ship 1 million units of Playbook to the carriers by June.

  • http://twitter.com/urbanglowcam Cameron

    Playbooks a sexy device. I can’t wait to get one.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josue-Aristy/540455542 Josue Aristy

    I hope wifi version of XOOM be ready before my birthday!!

  • Len

    The Xoom is already being released? They didn’t even have a model you could play around with at CES. It was just a looping video… Something tells me that people who buy the Xoom are going to be disappointed.

    I feel the Playbook is far more polished. Early sales numbers are usually based on hype as opposed to merit.

  • Anonymous

    When did moto say anything about an external modem for LTE? Many sites reported from CES that moto reps had told them that the LTE upgrade would be internal, and handled by Verizon stores with service centers.

    • Anonymous

      From my understanding, there is going to be a sim-like slot on the side that will allow for some sort of LTE modem to be inserted into the Xoom.

      I may have read that in the comments though, so it could be complete BS….

  • Anonymous

    WebOS or QNX?

  • Anonymous

    News flash: working out on Wall Street and from my vantage point I can see the statue of George Washington; it looks as though he’s holding a Xoom in his hand.

    (Nevermind, it’s good ole’ Mike Bl00mberg with a snow shovel)

  • Anonymous

    Everything else aside, just give us some damn pricing and release dates already.

  • Winston

    None of this report is true. Some is making stuff up, Motorola is building the Xoom themselves.

  • Dbeeeezy

    I think apple will remain the tablet king…for now

    As for the #2 spot – I wanted to think it would be an android as i love the droid platform, but looking at things critically I have to say that the playbook looks like the best tablet out there – slick UI (the things has no buttons!) and the multi-tasking on looks great

    The honeycomb does nothing for me. The UI looks archaic and ugly, but time will tell if they can pull things around for launch

  • Anonymous

    Don’t forget, a bunch of these PB will be free giveaway for app developers.

    • Dbeeezy

      I think your point is mean’t to be negative towards the playbook, but its not.

      If they give away a “bunch of these” to the point its worth noting that means the playbook has had massive developer adoption and will offer a large app catalog at launch…so I hope you are right

  • Max

    1 Million Playbooks for Q1? They won’t sell 1 million in ALL of 2011. Period.

    • Anonymous

      they sold 14.2 million BB’s last quarter alone, another 14 million targeted for this quarter, they will surpass even if less than 5% of BB’s last quarter users buy them

    • Playbook

      What a smart comment this was. Although you would be wrong. I know for a fact that they have already taken just about 300K pre-orders for this device (from large companies) and there is not a price or release date in sight. So keep up the good work on you making an ass of your self, cause it looks good on you.

  • Fueledbykryptonite

    Anyone know if the XOOM is gonna come out with WIFI or is it just 3G?

    • Scott

      I have read somewhere that the Xoom WiFi only will be out in April, followed by 3G for VZW. I guess we’ll find out

  • SamIam

    Zach gets a fail on this one. Absolutely NO ONE has talked about the 4G upgrade being ‘external’ (where the hell does Zach think it will go?). The 4G upgrade is an internal modem board — which is why Motorola said you will need to take your 3G XOOM to a Verizon store to have it upgraded.

  • Modding_canuck

    Can someone tell me what is so impressive about the Xoom? It’s maybe as powerful in specs as a Playbook, and heavier and uglier than the iPad… and we’ve never actually seen it running anything, other than one video… WTF is so great about it?

  • Anonymous

    How about the WiFi only model announced by Moto LA exec after CES ? Will it just be a 3G model with no subscription ? Or a separate model ? I expect to use my Tablet at home mainly. No need for addition subscription for that. WiFi just fine. Please Moto bring the WiFi only ASAP.

  • Anonymous

    To all the Apple fan boys. Until the IPAD 2, 3 or 4 gets flash I will never buy one. I want to surf the web, which I would need my tablet to do, and see the full web. If friends send me flash video clips via facebook, I want to be able to watch them right away. I have no time for angry birds or other games and I can play music on my Ipod. So that leaves the Ipad only good for me to read books. The Playbook for me makes more sense so far. Buy whats practical for your own needs and stop whining about sale projections. If playing games most of the day is your thing, then have an Iphone and Ipad. I have a business to run.

  • uCosom

    Maybe not right at the beginning, but the TAT guys will get their signature all over this puppy. iPad is gonna have an iPoop when that happens. The PlayBook is a slick device and I can’t wait to get one! The mobile, home and various virtual integration options will be amazing. RIM is looking years ahead, and with QNX and TAT are positioning themselves to kick a$$ and shut the mouths of all the naysayers. Bring it on RIM!

  • paul

    will hold out for the Playbook …

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