RIM has issued a statement on the news earlier today that Sprint had cancelled the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G WiMax variant. It seems like we were right earlier that RIM has focused on LTE instead of WiMax since even WiMax carriers have given up on WiMax. Here is what RIM has to say:
RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE. We remain excited and committed to delivering innovative and powerful 4G tablets to the US market together with our carrier partners. Testing of BlackBerry 4G PlayBook models is already underway and we plan to enter labs for network certifications in the US and other international markets this fall.
Any questions? Essentially that means a Verizon 4G PlayBook with an AT&T one probably coming when AT&T gets their LTE network up later this year.
Snowx2k5 ( View Profile) - Posts: 82
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 5:37 PM EST
Ok I feel a good bit better about the Playbooks status with US carriers than I did when I read the first story about Sprint canceling the their version of the Playbook. Yay!
BB Addict ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 6:27 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9900 | OS 7.0.0.317
Question… I have been out of the loop on the other variants as I have the wifi playbook. Will all the lte playbooks be hspa+ and 3g compatible?
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 7:45 PM EST
Cancellation of WiMax devices is nothing to be concerned about at all. It’s basically running on borrowed time.
Joe257 ( View Profile) - Posts: 628
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 8:02 PM EST
Whamo! Kudos to Ronen who analyzed this correctly. Indeed, when you first read the Sprint news, it was rather depressing, but when you look carefully, you see that this is really a positive move by RIM.
Michael S. Not Registered
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 8:06 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9550
The funny thing is Sprint tried to Blame it on BlackBerry saying 7 Inch tablets aren’t selling. I’m pretty sure Sprint doesn’t understand that BlackBerry is going to put those “7″ inch Tablets into cars. Nice try Sprint, but I believe BlackBerry!
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 8:42 PM EST
Yeah they don’t want to admit that their WiMax bet didn’t pay off and they are behind on LTE deployment.
Michael S. Not Registered
Posted: August 12, 2011 at 9:04 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9550
AT&T is going to LTE, and Verizon has it. Sprint just can’t beat them. But Let’s Blame it BlackBerry. I wouldn’t give them crap for phones besides the 8310 and tell them to go at it. Cause you know their 2G network might be worth something. HAHA LOL!
AloofKid ( View Profile) - Posts: 21
Posted: August 14, 2011 at 3:42 AM EST
So, if RIM will continue to make 2nd Generation BlackBerry Playbook, when are they planing making the BlackBerry Smartphone?
Also, with this report, Playbook’s price is starting to go down here in the Philippine market, considering it was only August 6 when it was officially launched here in the Philippines.