Get ready for the BlackPad. That’s Research In Motion’s working name for its tablet computer, which is reported to be ready for unveiling as early as next week.
According to Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal, the BlackBerry maker will launch the tablet in the fourth quarter. It will have a seven-inch touchscreen, at least one and possibly two built-in cameras, and Bluetooth. It will also feature an entirely new operating system, and will only be able to connect to cell networks through an accompanying BlackBerry smartphone.
OS From QNX
The operating system is expected to be a new platform from QNX Software Systems, a company that makes embedded OSes. RIM, which has sustained criticism about the performance of the BlackBerry OS, acquired QNX earlier this year. There has been some speculation that the QNX platform will eventually replace the BlackBerry OS.
The Journal, citing “people familiar with RIM’s plans,” said the tablet will be manufactured by Taiwan’s Quanta Computer and will use chips from the Santa Clara, Calif.-based Marvell Technology Group.
RIM has been expected to make some dramatic moves to shore up its smartphone position, which has been eroded by gains from Apple’s iPhones and devices based on Google’s Android platform.
One question is whether a move into the tablet category, currently dominated by Apple’s iPad but with other competing devices steadily appearing, is a good move. Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for consumer technology at the NPD Group, said RIM “doesn’t have to get into the tablet market.”
Connectivity Through BlackBerry
The move could be defensive, directed at maintaining its position in the enterprise market. This would help explain the approach of offering connectivity only through an accompanying BlackBerry. Since RIM is strong in that market, the tablet could become an added value to its user base.
The idea of a device having connectivity only through…