RIM: We are NOT abandoning the PlayBook

by Steven Mostyn - Sep 30 2011, 09:44

Canadian electronics specialist Research In Motion (RIM) has moved quickly to quash mounting speculation that suggests it may have pulled the plug on its QNX-powered BlackBerry PlayBook.

Initial rumours began emerging earlier this week after several leading American retail outlets slashed $200 USD off the device’s asking price, which, in turn, led industry analyst John Vihn to say RIM had abandoned its virgin tablet computer.

“We believe RIM has stopped production of its PlayBook and is actively considering existing the tablet market,” the Collins Stewart analyst wrote. “Additionally, our due diligence indicates that RIM has canceled development of additional tablet projects.”

In support of his claim, Vihn was keen to draw focus towards a wave of job cuts announced last week at Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Quanta Computer, which has been contracted to produce RIM’s touch-screen device.

However, a spokesperson for RIM has subsequently sent an email statement to Reuters, in which the company strongly dismisses the current rush of whispers regarding the tablet’s sudden demise.

“Rumours suggesting that the BlackBerry PlayBook is being discontinued are pure fiction,” the statement reads. “RIM remains highly committed to the tablet market and the future of QNX in its platform.”

Although the company is standing firm behind the PlayBook, there’s no denying the tablet’s apparent lack of consumer appeal. Yet, having only sold some 200,000 units during Q2, significant price cuts introduced by the likes of Office Depot and Staples suggest retailers are getting twitchy.

And, when retailers get twitchy, tablet computers can quickly go the way of the dodo—just ask Hewlett-Packard and the recently deceased TouchPad.

Around the Web

comments powered by Disqus