Research in Motion, the makers of Blackberry phones, is now a company determined to acquire great success in the telecommunications industry. According to The Wall Street Journal, Research in Motion (RIM) will launch their "PlayBook" tablet computer, in North America, in the first quarter of 2011. The tablet computer will be available globally in the second quarter of 2011, the company announced on Wednesday. The company is very optimistic about the success they expect from this launch. According to the company's co-chief executive, there is a high demand for their product, especially from international retailers. South Korea and Japan will be key markets for selling their product.
RIM's tablet computer will be 7 inches and run on a new operating system built by a Research in Motion unit called QNX Software Systems. It seems that RIM has locked Apple Inc. in as their main competitor. RIM has confirmed that their tablet will cost under $500, although declining to give a specific amount. This is compared to the iPad, which starts at $499 and goes to $829. Not only is the price of the PlayBook more attractive than that of the iPad, but also, the PlayBook will support Adobe Systems Inc. Flash Technology. This is necessary for playing many games and watching videos available on the Internet and is technology that the iPad does not support. The tablet computer market isn't the only market that RIM hopes to compete and potentially surpass Apple Inc. in. The co-chief executive also expects RIM's global market share in mobile operating systems to surpass Apple's in the next coming quarters.
Apple has sold more than seven million iPad tablets and Samsung expects to sell more than one million Galaxy Tab tablet computers by the end of the year. This data shows the strength in the tablet market. It is difficult not to wonder if these tablet computers will simply turn into trends, or if they will lead to the extinction of traditional laptop computers. Although this is unlikely to happen anytime soon, it's impossible not to wonder what new technology tablet computers will lead to.
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It's certainly interesting to see how quickly so many competitors have jumped into the tablet market shortly after Apple introduced the iPad. While the PlayBook's lower price will definitely be a draw for some customers, the brand loyalty of Apple's customers cannot be discounted. Also, there is the difference between RIM's PlayBook being seen as merely another shopping good and Apple's iPad being seen as a luxury good. However, this diversification simply points out the incredibly popularity of these tablet computers. I don't think tablets will come to replace laptops, but I think they will definitely be a huge competitor, just as laptops have been huge competitors to desktops as they have gained popularity and improved their technology.
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