Verizon Wireless 'still evaluating' PlayBook distribution

By on Apr 20, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Tablets April 20, 2011

Reuters is reporting that Verizon Wireless is still debating whether or not to distribute Research In Motion’s new tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook, via its sales channels. “We’re still evaluating the BlackBerry Playbook and have not made a determination as to whether we’re going to distribute it,” said a Verizon Wireless spokesperson speaking to the publication. The new tablet, which runs RIM’s QNX-based software, launched in U.S. and Canadian markets yesterday. The Waterloo mobile devices company had originally indicated that Verizon would be a distribution partner.

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  • http://twitter.com/_fredLjones Fredrick Jones

    They will do it quick, fast, and in a hurry as soon as another carrier beats them to the punch.

    • Calvin Williams

      RIM needs to do some convincing. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 is going to make a killing this summer.

      • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

        I don’t know how RIM, crApple or MS can compete when DROID tablets are ruling and outselling the entire market. RIM needs to adopt DROID now or be lost for good.

      • http://twitter.com/UrbanEnigma Yves

        Droid tablets are ruling and outselling the entire market? I know it’s 4/20 but please don’t comment while high

      • Calvin Williams

        That would be pretty cool if RIM adopted Android. They could make a pretty beastly skin and some business apps and take the market.

      • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

        @Calvin

        That is what I was thinking.

  • http://twitter.com/chrispgriffin Chris Griffin

    Can’t blame them, since BlackBerry owners would be foolish to spend money on a data plan for the PlayBook when you could just tether via Bridge for free.

    • Youngp88

      Danm poor you guys in the states with at&t and verizon they rappin you guys….

  • drudo

    After the BB storm. I don’t blame them for taking a wait n see approach /w RIM.

    • Calvin Williams

      The storm was HORRIBLE. Storm 2 was also.

  • blah blah blah

    Oh there’s a scoker! Has verizon ever been first with anything?

    • http://twitter.com/UrbanEnigma Yves

      Exactly. They were pretty against adopting Android when it first debuted

  • Bentlywong

    There is very little upside for them to release the playbook. its not like they are going to get a data plan for it. Its a wifi only device right now.

    It’ll take up valuable shelf space that would be reserved for other phones/tablets that actually would have a data plan.

  • Anonymous

    Translation:

    “It sucks.”

    • serpentor

      Translation is there’s no way for them to make money from a data plan off it so there’s really no business case to sell it.

      They sold the iPad, but only if you signed up for the data plan.

    • Anonymous

      translation: perspectively is a douche who only believe in apple, thus he has no vision.

    • Tim Conner

      Translation: “You don’t have one.”

      Posted from my PlayBook.

      • Anonymous

        How is that tiny little punk-ass screen working out so far?

      • Tim Conner

        It’s great actually. I haven’t even bothered with pulling out my laptop since I got it. The resolution is high enough that the screen size is a complete non-issue. I couldn’t imagine carrying around anything that was of a larger size. If I wanted a tablet that I was going to use primarily for playing with at home then I would want something larger, but this thing is like the ultra-portable of the tablets.

      • Pontificus47

        just fine dumb ass

  • sirpaul

    What do they have to lose.

  • JN

    Shelf space for tablets is limited, more so than smartphones. iPad 2 is selling like crack and Xoom (and I guess Galaxy Tab) are moving units as well. After obviously tepid sales and very harsh reviews, why would they sell it? Money talks and that PlayBook ain’t bringing in none.

    • Anonymous

      If you haven’t heard, PB sold quite well on its first day launch. Mind you, not like iPad but much better than Xoom. If anything. Verizon should remove Xoom and replace it with Playbook.

  • Steve

    I would guess this is specific to the Wi-Fi version of PlayBook. Tough to believe Verizon wouldn’t carry a model enabled for their network (unless Apple has implied that they might need to ‘limit’ supply of iPad’s shipped to Verizon, in a Microsoft 1990′s sort of anti-monopolistic tone!)

  • http://www.bigjobsboard.com/ Brad Jobs

    They should definitely evaluate because the iPad 2 will be marching into the biggest percentage of tablet sales in the market.

  • Anonymous

    It’s cause they can almost feel that return rate will be high on this turkey, After dealing with the storm, it’s hard to blame them for taking the proper precautions.

    • Pontificus47

      Just another idiot who bought an oversized ipod touch…….if you didn’t buy a playbook you should shut the hell up.

  • http://twitter.com/AKIIRASAN Anthony A

    its possible it has something to do with their sales of the ipad. i imagine most the ipads that sell are wifi only or on att if its 3g. sprint is also releasing the 4g or wimax ir whatever it is this summer so that could be another reason. i would also like to add i wrote this from my playbook. k thnx bai.

  • http://webhostingreview.info/php-hosting/ smithon

    yup they should hurry up

  • http://www.QEDMethods.com Philip

    Wow, that’s embarrassing for RIM. After all Verizon is carrying the iPad (they sort of have to), they carry the Xoom (as nice as the Xoom is, it’s still lacking), and they come out with that they are “evaluating” the PlayBook.

  • http://www.QEDMethods.com Philip

    Wow, that’s embarrassing for RIM. After all Verizon is carrying the iPad (they sort of have to), they carry the Xoom (as nice as the Xoom is, it’s still lacking), and they come out with that they are “evaluating” the PlayBook.

  • http://www.QEDMethods.com Philip

    Wow, that’s embarrassing for RIM. After all Verizon is carrying the iPad (they sort of have to), they carry the Xoom (as nice as the Xoom is, it’s still lacking), and they come out with that they are “evaluating” the PlayBook.

  • http://www.QEDMethods.com Philip

    Wow, that’s embarrassing for RIM. After all Verizon is carrying the iPad (they sort of have to), they carry the Xoom (as nice as the Xoom is, it’s still lacking), and they come out with that they are “evaluating” the PlayBook.

  • psicokid1919

    I’m calling bs on this story. I have a fneew friends that have been testing the playbook on the vzw LTE network for the past month.

  • Max

    That’s like saying ‘Verizon is still evaluating the Commodore 64 and Timex Sinclair’.

  • http://www.apexcarpentryinc.com/blog/ Craig

    Why would they sell it? They do not carry the Galaxy Tab WIFI. They are in the business to sell data plans. Put a wireless radio in it and they would carry it right away.

    • Anonymous

      Exactly, why would they want to sell an item which is limited in use to BB, and then outside of unit profits, is going to use their network without making money.

  • Anonymous

    I’m guess it the BB Bridge that bugging them…. no way for the to charge for it.

    But hey, they still can charge for the tethering part if it’s not a blackberry connected to the playbook

  • Anonymous

    Problem with the Epic Fail, I mean the Play Book is not so much its a bad device but its tied to Blackberry use. The Xoom and iPad aren’t. Other problems, walk into a store that sells it, BestBuy Staples etc.. Training has been lacking. And while the graphics ands screen are nice, its usage interface is crazy with these odd swipes, and few people know them. Sure it will sell, but to a limited market. And there is only so much shelf space.

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