BlackBerry PlayBook -New Rival of Apple iPad

R esearch In Motion, whose BlackBerry smartphone rose to prominence on Wall Street, is now targeting business customers with a tablet computer, PlayBook, to compete with Apple's iPad and add a fresh source of revenue. 

The BlackBerry PlayBook, slimmer and lighter than the iPad, supports corporate applications and has advanced data-security features, RIM said. The device has a 7-inch (18-cm) screen, smaller than the iPad's 9.7-inch display. "The principal market for this is busy working people," RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie said in an interview in New York. "We're not trying to say this is all things to all people." 

What are the specifications?

7-inch screen (1,024x600 pixels)
5.1 inches tall
7.6 inches wide
0.4 inch (9.7mm) thick
0.9 pounds
3-megapixel front-facing HD camera
5-megapixel rear-facing HD camera
1GHz dual-core processor
1GB RAM
1080p high-definition video playback
HTML5-capable browser
802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi
Adobe Flash 10.1 support
Adobe AIR support
H.264, MPEG4, and WMV, HDMI video output
Micro USB, Micro HDMI, and DLNA media streaming
Enterprise-strength e-mail security

Will it have 3G or 4G data?
It doesn't appear that the BlackBerry PlayBook will ship with a 3G or 4G cellular antenna at launch. If you're out of Wi-Fi range, you'll be able to pair your BlackBerry smartphone (via Bluetooth). RIM did mention in a press release that it "intends to also offer 3G and 4G models in the future."

We're still uncertain if the BlackBerry PlayBook will only tether to BlackBerry phones or if will will also pair to any other smartphone or data-capable device.

When will it be available?
The PlayBook should arrive in the U.S. in early 2011, and in other international markets in the second quarter of 2011. We don't know additional details.

How much will the PlayBook cost?
Although RIM has kept mum on pricing, CNET Senior Editor Donald Bell speculates that the PlayBook could start at $500 and cost up to $1,000, if unsubsidized by a carrier.

source:-news.cnet.com