RIM reveals plans for LTE, HSPA+ BlackBerry PlayBook tablets

By on Feb 15, 2011 at 7:00 AM
Tablets February 15, 2011

Cell phone maker Research In Motion has yet to reveal pricing or specific release dates for the first two versions of it’s initial tablet offering, but that apparently won’t stop the company from confirming a third and a fourth version of the device. RIM on Monday revealed plans to release an LTE-compatible BlackBerry PlayBook as well as a 3G model that will work with HSPA+ networks. “The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is already being widely recognized for its superior performance, rich web experience, enterprise readiness and deep support for web standards and open development tools,” RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said in a statement. “We are now building on the BlackBerry PlayBook’s many advantages with support for additional 4G networks that will allow enhanced business opportunities for carriers and developers and unparalleled mobile experiences for users.” Information surrounding these newly-announced variants of the PlayBook jibes with a report from last month stating RIM would build an LTE version of its tablet for Verizon Wireless and a 3G version of the PlayBook for AT&T’s HSPA+ network. RIM has not confirmed that Verizon Wireless and AT&T would be carrier partners for the device, however, stating only that the LTE and HSPA+ versions of the PlayBook will launch in the second half of 2011.

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  • max

    Nobody cares, Mr lazardis.

    • Todd

      And you presume to speak for everybody?

    • BoLdBuRry

      ErrrrraBody cArEs JiGgA JiGgA!!

    • http://twitter.com/scaryslow john K.

      It’s Mr Lazaridis.

  • Big Papi

    How can anyone care if there isn’t any target date or specific price point? I’m holding out for a Playbook, but all these new ones have me piqued

    • sirpaul

      I’m totally with you. At least with the iPhone (+all the rumours) we know that it will come out in June/July. We have a date to look forward to. With the playbook – who knows. RIM needs to realize that they aren’t Apple. People aren’t going to hold off buying something else just to get a PlayBook.

      PS: who names a tablet targeted towards the business consumer a “PlayBook”…I am intrigued by the capibilities of this tablet, but am rather confused by RIMs “strategies”.

      • http://twitter.com/rravindras Ryan

        You need to look up what a playbook is then. The name makes perfect sense.

  • Anonymous

    The regining lords of the SmartPhone have struck again. The PlayBook will rule them all.

    Well done RIM – again

  • Midi45

    No one will buy this crap.

    • Anonymous

      Wait and see, the numbers will tell. Do you have sales figures? Please share.

    • Todd

      And you speak for everyone too?

      • http://twitter.com/rravindras Ryan

        What exactly is “crap” about it? The specs…no those look pretty awesome actually. The price? Nope…that can’t be it either…

  • Anonymous

    That’s great news but no official launch date. Kinda disappointed and excited at the same time.

  • Securitywiz

    Why buy a crimpled WiFi model when I can save my pennies and wait for a 4g version

  • Sedfas

    stupid RIM, making a loud ” tablet tablet tablet” almost a year
    but no one still know when it release.
    other companies presenting their product without a loud
    stupid lazaridis

    • KCRic

      Yeah and all of those companies will need to release 3 or 4 ‘new’ models to correct ‘issues’ like ‘opps, we forgot a camera’ ‘opps, the battery sucks’ or ‘opps, the OS wasn’t optimized for tablets’. RIM however, will most likely not have that issue thus making them the best option.

    • Anonymous

      Great command of the English language.

    • Todd

      I’d rather have them release a properly functioning unit with the least amount of bugs, than a company who releases too early and shrugs their shoulders when people scream for firmware updates and get nothing in return.

  • Anonymous

    ive had the money for this thing burning a hole in pocket for months now. I dont wanna see any more preview videos, i dont want anymore updates. The next Playbook article i read better be about the friggin release date.

    • http://twitter.com/rravindras Ryan

      I know what you mean.

  • Anonymous

    This thing is sooooo smooth. I think it may win me over from the G-Slate if they release one on T-Mobile.

  • Anonymous

    Come on RIM get the launch date. Even me a big fan of the Playbook think you are on the verge of sending potential buyers to the competition with this long drawn out campaign, with no release date in sight. Come on RIM don’t mess up a good thing.

    • zukidrvr

      The carriers set the launch date.

  • BBPro

    HSPA+ T-Mobile/AT&T………………An official release date would make life so much easier. Hopefully they give use a date within the next 2 weeks

  • BoLdBuRry2

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    yeah yeah hit me on my bLaCk burry,,,,,,,,,,
    mah black burry burry
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    uhh uhh huhhh mah black burry burry

    whAthCaa whAtchAa know jigga jigga

    blackburry iS the bEsT jigga jigga

    yeh uhh uhh yeah uhh uhh you so nice black burry

    uhh yeah

    oh sh*t you so nice burry, i wAnNa c U m on you blackk burry

    uhh yeah hit me on mah black burry, mah black burry burry

    • wackness

      This is officially the most ignorant comment I have ever read…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6JUK2RDOPHCULTIFWTNRVQ4PYQ JonathanW

    whats up? No magenta love? We use hspa+ as well.

  • QNX Please

    Reveals plans, they said this from the get go. WiFi only version first, then 3.5G,4G whatever they call it these days by Summer. The reason was supply issues.

  • Anonymous

    does anybody “really” care about the Playbook? I mean….really?

    • uCosom

      Yes.

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