There have been many opposing views on RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook. At one end, the term “half-baked” is associated with the 7inch tab repeatedly because of its lack of native email, contacts, calendar, and tasks apps. At the same time, Blackberry owners who use the Bridge app to tether their smartphone and tab are pretty satisfied, especially with the number of great apps coming BlackBerry PlayBook’s way.
RIM has been consistently dismissing negative comments on the tab’s sales performance, stating the sales are satisfactory. Well, it is true that the tab’s selling better than many predicted. But it’s hardly been easy for the QNX tablet what with the iPad 2 and numerous Honeycomb tabs competing against each other in the tablet market, not to mention the company’s recent bad luck with 1,000 faulty units that had to be recalled.
RIM has included AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint in the list of carriers that will be selling the BlackBerry PlayBook but none have started doing so yet. AT&T and RIM seem to be in along drawn discussion over the payment terms of the BlackBerry Bridge app that could deprive AT&T of a tethering fee. On the app’s approval progress, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said, “we’re still working on it.” “The principle is to make sure [the BlackBerry Bridge app] works well for our customers and whether it should be considered tethering,” he added.
Verizon seems unsure about hosting the RIM tablet at all. Responding to a Wall Street Journal inquiry about Verizon’s stance, Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney noted that “nothing has changed,” and offered no time frame as to when the decision would be made.
Honestly, needing a bridge app for native email, calendar, etc., functionality is lame. Hopefully, RIM’s going to be quick about its next model of the BlackBerry PlayBook that will include native email, contact and calendar apps.
The true picture of how the BlackBerry PlayBook is doing will be revealed at the company’s business update on the BlackBerry PlayBook, next month on June 16th. Till then, we can play the guessing game.
[via crunchgear]
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Actually, you don’t have to wait for a new model. RIM is releasing a software update with native email, this summer.