Research in Motion (RIMM) Ready to Unveil its Tablet
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Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) could unveil the new tablet computer it has been working on, along with the operating system that will run it, as early as next week at a developers’ conference, according to a report on Wednesday citing people familiar with the matter from the Wall Street Journal.
The BlackPad, which it has been dubbed though not officially named, is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. The device will have a 7-inch touch screen and two built-in cameras.
The RIM tablet will run on chips from Marvell Technology Group Inc., according to the report, though this was not confirmed by RIM.
The device may be hamstrung however, as it will only be able to be connected to cellular networks through the use of a BlackBerry smartphone. The device will not connect by itself to cellular networks, so it is unclear at this time which wireless carriers or retailers will offer the device.
The Journal noted that the RIM tablet will employ a revamped BlackBerry 6 operating system, rather than a specific platform built for the device. RIM had purchased QNX Software Systems, a maker of operating systems, in a move that was seen as an attempt to replace its criticized software.
The Journal reported that RIM plans to eventually replace the operating system of its BlackBerry smartphones with a platform created by QNX.
The RIM tablet comes at a time when its smartphones are facing increased competition from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone and devices powered by Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system.
The "BlackPad" will also be in direct competition with the iPad from Apple, which is already dominating the tablet market.
Shares of RIM are up 51 cents to $47.65 in premarket trade on Wednesday.
The BlackPad, which it has been dubbed though not officially named, is scheduled to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. The device will have a 7-inch touch screen and two built-in cameras.
The RIM tablet will run on chips from Marvell Technology Group Inc., according to the report, though this was not confirmed by RIM.
The device may be hamstrung however, as it will only be able to be connected to cellular networks through the use of a BlackBerry smartphone. The device will not connect by itself to cellular networks, so it is unclear at this time which wireless carriers or retailers will offer the device.
The Journal noted that the RIM tablet will employ a revamped BlackBerry 6 operating system, rather than a specific platform built for the device. RIM had purchased QNX Software Systems, a maker of operating systems, in a move that was seen as an attempt to replace its criticized software.
The Journal reported that RIM plans to eventually replace the operating system of its BlackBerry smartphones with a platform created by QNX.
The RIM tablet comes at a time when its smartphones are facing increased competition from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone and devices powered by Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system.
The "BlackPad" will also be in direct competition with the iPad from Apple, which is already dominating the tablet market.
Shares of RIM are up 51 cents to $47.65 in premarket trade on Wednesday.
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