In another setback for RIM and non-Apple tablets, Sprint Nextel has pulled its support for a PlayBook model that would have run on the carrier’s 4G network.
The move, prompted by lack of demand from business customers, was originally reported in The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by a Sprint representative. “RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE,” a statement from RIM reads. “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 under way.|
Without Sprint’s backing the PlayBook will have no support from a U.S. carrier. Neither AT&T nor Verizon have offered backing for PlayBook, but both support Apple’s iPad 2.
Although RIM has recently suffered because of a lack of demand for BlackBerry smartphones, Sprint’s decision also comes as tablet PCs have failed to gain much traction against the iPad. In a sign that RIM’s not the only one struggling to compete with Apple, Hewlett-Packard cut the price of its TouchPad by $100 last week. That device had only been on the market for a month.
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Posted on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:26:42 +0000 at http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/zr6iuYd6RuQ/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/12/sprint-4g-playbook-blackberry-rim/#comments
The move, prompted by lack of demand from business customers, was originally reported in The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by a Sprint representative. “RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE,” a statement from RIM reads. “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 under way.|
Without Sprint’s backing the PlayBook will have no support from a U.S. carrier. Neither AT&T nor Verizon have offered backing for PlayBook, but both support Apple’s iPad 2.
Although RIM has recently suffered because of a lack of demand for BlackBerry smartphones, Sprint’s decision also comes as tablet PCs have failed to gain much traction against the iPad. In a sign that RIM’s not the only one struggling to compete with Apple, Hewlett-Packard cut the price of its TouchPad by $100 last week. That device had only been on the market for a month.
More About: blackberry, ipad, RIM, RIM Playbook, sprintFor more Business & Marketing coverage:Follow Mashable Business & Marketing on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Business & Marketing channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:26:42 +0000 at http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/zr6iuYd6RuQ/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/12/sprint-4g-playbook-blackberry-rim/#comments