Research In Motion (RIM) says it is now accepting early enquiries from mobile app developers for its forthcoming tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. RIM has been busy designing a new product that will please app developers as well as consumers. App developers can submit apps to the BlackBerry App World Site and become eligible to receive a free PlayBook if their app is submitted and approved before the new MID (mobile Internet device) is released sometime in January.
Leading up to the launch of its first tablet device, RIM is making updates to its new BlackBerry Tablet OS software development kit.
The latest beta version now includes support for Flash Builder 4.5, which brings drag and drop capabilities to the application development framework.
The new SDK also supports Windows in 64-bit and has a simulator for Linux, something that has surprised more than one wireless industry observer today.
"Overall interest and momentum behind the BlackBerry PlayBook continues to build and we are thrilled with the positive response so dar, from both the mobile app developer community as well as our customers," vice president Tyler Lessard said.
"We are very pleased to be working with app developers in advance of the product launch and the opening of BlackBerry App World to accept BlackBerry PlayBook apps as an important next step. We believe that the PlayBook is a great new product that will please the regular mobile user as well as enterprise customers that are used to work with a BlackBerry smartphone."
Last week, and according to StatCounter, BlackBerry users utilized more mobile data than iPhone users for November. If this is a new trend, could it mean a small turnaround for Research In Motion? Well it's too early to tell at this point, but it could if the trend goes on for an extended period of time.
On average, RIM's BlackBerry operating system took about 34.3 percent of all mobile data traffic in the U.S. last month. Apple's iOS was right behind with a 33 percent share. Google meanwhile continues its rapid pace of growth with the Android OS gaining from 8.2 percent a year ago to about 23.8 percent in November.
During that same period, Apple's overall market share for the iPhone has dropped from almost 52 percent to just 33 percent.
“These numbers suggest that mobile app developers shouldn't be developing solely for the iPhone to the exclusion of BlackBerry and Android,” StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen said. And as for Microsoft's chances, he added “This data clearly demonstrates that there is a battle already going on in the smartphone market for the consumer and business Internet user. You can never underestimate Microsoft but it sure looks to have its work cut out for itself."
Last week, Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie said his company will price its upcoming PlayBook tablet at less than $500. However, with an entry level at $499 for Apple's very popular iPad, some are now questioning whether Balsillie’s price estimate will do enough to excite potential buyers. Chad Berndtson, a tech blogger with CRN, wrote that Balsillie’s "vague pronouncement still leaves more questions than answers, such as how the PlayBook will help win over enterprise business users in the market for a tablet device."
Then ZD-Net tech blogger Larry Dignan wasn't surprised at the news either. He wrote that any tablet that doesn’t start at $499 or less is doomed in today’s very competitive market.
"RIM seems to be positioning the PlayBook as a best-in-class option for mobile app developers and a showpiece device for lovers of Adobe Flash. But despite its platform, the PlayBook still appears to lack the connectivity options of rivals like the Samsung Tab, and given the long-awaited updates to iOS contained in Apple's 4.2 release, much of what the iPad lacked in comparative features appears to have been resolved," said Dignan.
“I’ve been pretty vocal that Android tablets need to sell at a discount, especially with 7-inch screens. RIM, which will sell the PlayBook as an enterprise device, may have more leeway on pricing, but not much,” he wrote. “After all, RIM’s PlayBook still features a tiny 7-inch screen.”
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