During the press session and other confirmations at BlackBerry World we have heard that we will soon be seeing a BlackBerry PlayBook with 4G. I ran into two people at the show who got some time to spend with the devices and they were impressed and it seemed to work smoothly. Thorsten Heins was asked during the press session on what we will be seeing between now and the BlackBerry 10 device launch. They also asked if there would be another PlayBook device launch with the launch of BlackBerry 10.
It was interesting to see that Thorsten Responded that the BlackBerry PlayBook is more of a target into the mobile computing space than the tablet space. (Remember those embedded police cars?) He also confirmed that a 4G BlackBerry PlayBook will be coming to market later this year.
Also of interest was a question Thorsten was asked about the conference being focused on BlackBerry 10 but what about all the talk on enterprise policies and security? Thorsten responded that they were “100% correct there is more to RIM than just the handset business. We are focused on Business and enterprise because that is one of the places where RIM really fits best.” to further this goal they have pulled together all the enterprise business divisions under Robin Bienfait, RIM’s CIO, since it was very fragmented and combined them all to ensure focus. Now that he has the focus in place RIM is pushing the throttle further. (he even simulated stepping on the gas) He also confirmed what many of us already know which is the fact that RIM needs BlackBerry 10 to be launched to improve the enterprise platform.
Todd Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 5:15 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 2.0.1
Robin? Who/what is Robin?
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3282
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:50 AM EST
Robin is RIM’s CIO
Todd Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM EST
Aahhh.. Ok… Normally a person is identified at least once (full name and title/role) before mentioning them with first or last name only, so I didn’t make the connection.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3282
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 4:11 PM EST
No worries. I just had it earlier in my notes and didn’t have a chance to flesh it out when I broke it up into the relevant sections.
BBA Brian ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 8:29 AM EST
ack… I want the 4G Playbook now!
Kevin Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:03 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9810 | OS 7.0.0.254
I loved everything I saw this week but RIM needs to firm up release dates. It’s always “coming soon”, esentially code for vaporware in my mind.
BBA Brian ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:04 AM EST
can’t be vaporware as they exist and many many people have used/seen them
Kevin Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:07 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9810 | OS 7.0.0.254
Oh it can be vaporware – 3G/4G Playbooks have been around since last summer and promised to be ” coming soon” and not one has ever been sold.
BBA Brian ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:08 AM EST
no vaporware refers to a product “idea” that has not been physically made or seen in the flesh
thus the “vapor” part of the word
Kevin Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:11 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9810 | OS 7.0.0.254
True. That said I have still never seen one, seen a test of one. I have only ever seen “spy shots”. Don’t want to be negetive but the promises from RIM are so much larger than what they ever deliver.
BBA Brian ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:13 AM EST
it must be an OS 2.1 thing.
The presentations at BBW indicated it would come with 2.1
Todd Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 9:25 AM EST
I’ve seen one. Not in a store, but being used.
spragga Not Registered
Posted: May 4, 2012 at 12:11 PM EST
These were supposed to be out by now. By the time I left RIM, internal beta testers were having huge issues obtaining signals from 4G/LTE amongst other things.
I guess they’re still trying to work those kinks out.
texasguy Not Registered
Posted: May 6, 2012 at 1:15 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9810 | OS 7.0.0.540
So does the iPad 3. It has huge LTE signalling issues. Causes problems for the carriers. Source: I work for Ericsson.