RIM (RIMM) BlackBerry PlayBook To Be Priced Under $500?

BlackBerry PlayBook

BlackBerry PlayBook

RIM (NASDAQ:RIMM) saw its share price rise on the back of some promising news about the expected retail price of its upcoming iPad competitor, the BlackBerry PlayBook. CEO Jim Balsillie claims the 7″ tablet will sell for ‘under $500′, Bloomberg’s Businessweek reported yesterday.

Expected to be released in the first quarter of 2011, PlayBook is being touted as the first business class tablet, and many believe it may be the first real competitor to Apple’s iPad, which currently dominates with a staggering 95% of market share. Samsung recently entered the fray with its Galaxy Tab, but sales are said to be lacklustre, with the device’s high purchase price and 2 year contracts potentially putting people off. A sub $500 price point for the PlayBook could see BlackBerry’s entry gain more traction, especially given its superior hardware specification.

Balsillie is also quotes as saying that the iPad’s dominance will ‘change when we’re in the market’. Strong words indeed, and ones that only hard sales numbers will back up.

[via Businessweek]

Advertisement

Leave a Reply