RIM just went out and stated the obvious this week with the announcement of two new variants of the BlackBerry PlayBook. They have now confirmed that we will be seeing an LTE version and a HSPA+ version in the vague “second half of 2011.” That brings us up to four different variants of the BlackBerry PlayBook:
- BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi
- BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + WiMax
- BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + LTE
- BlackBerry 4G PlayBook with Wi-Fi + HSPA+
The other interesting thing is that RIM has confirmed that in addition to 4G and Wi-Fi the PlayBook will also support:
- Bluetooth tethering
- Mobile hotspots (ie. a MiFi(TM), smartphone or other portable device equipped to act as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot)
- BlackBerry Bridge
Interesting stuff. RIM has already updated the PlayBook page with some of this info. Check out the full press release after the jump:
RIM Announces Two Additional BlackBerry 4G PlayBook Models For LTE and HSPA+ Networks
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS, BARCELONA, SPAIN–(Marketwire – Feb. 14, 2011) - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced plans to launch two additional BlackBerry® 4G PlayBook™ tablets during the second half of 2011, featuring support for LTE and HSPA+ high speed wide area wireless 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. 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," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion.
RIM’s family of upcoming BlackBerry 4G PlayBook tablets will deliver professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. These innovative tablets will each provide users with an ultra-portable design featuring industry leading performance with real-time multitasking and symmetrical multiprocessing, uncompromised high-fidelity web browsing including support for Adobe® Flash and stunning HD multimedia, as well as advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.
The combination of premium hardware features and design powered by the new and highly acclaimed BlackBerry® Tablet OS and open development tools, along with support for carriers’ high speed 4G networks, will provide a high performance platform that enables a mobile services revolution.
BerryKing Not Registered
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 8:21 AM EST
Im very happy about what RIM is announcing! Its not exactly new and also it was expected but it seems they are letting people know about certain features once they are sure the decision has been taken to integrate that and once the features has been implemented correctly like the Hotspot connection with ANY phone! So for all Android and iOS fans, they wont be able to resist buying the playbook and bashing it at the same time! I hope them haters go to sleep now!
BerryKing Not Registered
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 8:31 AM EST
Oh! Also, just certain modification id like to let people know regarding this article: HSPA+ is not 4G! please stop giving people false information! Its 3G+ and the same thing for the Sprint version which will be wi-fi+WiMax, ITS NOT 4G! The LTE one is gonna be a real 4G! for the rest its all false representation due to those carriers advertising campaign that takes people for idiots! 4G is a jump of technology/generation and is suppose to be an exponential improvement! which means that 3G in average can do around 10Mbps and even higher where as 4G will have to reach around 100Mbps! So please do not get fooled by carriers fake ass marketing campaign trying to promote and stimulate product sells by making you the consumer believe that they have a new technology! Only Verizon currently has LTE and they still can not reach the 4G status yet with their speeds but that will be the technology that will get them there!
For the rest, HSPA=3G and HSPA+=3G+.
I understand that this is not BerryReview’s fault since they only report what those companies put out there but we, as consumer, should let those carriers know that we get it and we are no fools!
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 181
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 12:10 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9700 | OS 6.0.0.448
I guess you haven’t heard/read that the people that decide wether something is 4G or not have said that they consider developed 3G technologies as 4G.
BerryKing Not Registered
Posted: February 18, 2011 at 10:15 AM EST
I really dont know where you heard/read that but the last time I read about them they were not saying what you said and only service providers were saying that! Not the people who determines the regulation on those technologies!
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 181
Posted: February 18, 2011 at 12:16 PM EST
It is right here.
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/48.aspx
Third paragraph from the bottom.
“Following a detailed evaluation against stringent technical and operational criteria, ITU has determined that “LTE-Advanced” and “WirelessMAN-Advanced” should be accorded the official designation of IMT-Advanced. As the most advanced technologies currently defined for global wireless mobile broadband communications, IMT-Advanced is considered as “4G”, although it is recognized that this term, while undefined, may also be applied to the forerunners of these technologies, LTE and WiMax, and to other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third generation systems now deployed. The detailed specifications of the IMT-Advanced technologies will be provided in a new ITU-R Recommendation expected in early 2012.”
You can also read about it here:
http://www.tmonews.com/2010/12/hspa-now-officially-4g-according-to-itu/
and here,
http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=7162
and here,
http://www.cellfanatic.com/2010/12/19/itu-loosens-grip-wimax-lte-hspa-now-4g/
and here,
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/12/18/itu-reverses-its-decision-lte-wimax-and-hspa-are-now-4g/
Want more? Just search Google
Enjoy!
captainbdsc ( View Profile) - Posts: 181
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 12:11 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9700 | OS 6.0.0.448
Oh and thanks to me for posting this in the forum about 2 minutes after it was announced
babisboi ( View Profile) - Posts: 416
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 8:49 AM EST
So glad to see that RIM has announced so many different Playbooks. Pretty much every carrier is going to get one. A very good move on RIM’s part.
fubaz ( View Profile) - Posts: 854
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 11:57 AM EST
i think this can help alleviate a lot of the speculation in the forums
richard Not Registered
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 12:04 PM EST
Hey… can someone ask RIM about supporting AWS spec?
Wind Mobile keeps saying there getting the playbook… but will it be AWS spec or WIFI?
Jay ( View Profile) - Posts: 1371
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 12:13 PM EST
Looks like its all about the PlayBook at MWC, so far at least.
fubaz ( View Profile) - Posts: 854
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 12:13 PM EST
Richard, AWS will come, you can always get a WiFi model and tether it to start.
And remember TMO also uses AWS Bands worldwide… so it should be sooner than later.
Steve Not Registered
Posted: February 14, 2011 at 2:07 PM EST
So will there be 1 PlayBook shell (incorporating a module cavity), with an accessory module released for each network variation?
DaSaint ( View Profile) - Posts: 397
Posted: February 16, 2011 at 2:26 PM EST
GREAT STUFF!!! CDME more fits the PlayPook, it doesn’t need to make calls!