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2010-09-23 09:17:37
Wed Sep 22, 3:05 pm ET
There s been a steady drip of rumors about a BlackBerry tablet for months, and now comes word that we might finally lay our eyes on the mythical, 7-inch device as soon as Monday.
So say ZDNet and the Wall Street Journal, which both report that Research In Motion could take the wraps off the so-called BlackPad on the first day of its developers conference in San Francisco next week.
Larry Dignan of ZDNet thinks the unveiling will happen at a "big" but still hush-hush press event on Monday (speaking of which, where s my invite?), while the Wall Street Journal which first began rumormongering about the BlackBerry tablet back in June seems pretty confident that the device will arrive in stores in the fourth quarter, before the year is out.
Most of the other details in the Journal article is stuff that we ve heard before that it ll likely be called the "BlackPad" and boast a 7-inch display (check), one or two cameras (check), and the ability to connect to the Internet by tethering to a nearby BlackBerry handset (double-check).
The Journal piece also notes that the BlackPad (or whatever it ends up being called) will come with Bluetooth and "broadband" connections, but won t be able to connect to cellular data networks without the help of a BlackBerry smartphone an odd statement, given that a "broadband" connection implies an embedded 3G chipset. Perhaps the Journal writers are refering to Wi-Fi; in any case, though, all previous indications have pointed to a tablet with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi but without 3G.
As far as operating systems are concerned, the Journal repeats an earlier nugget from Bloomberg, which reported in August that RIM would bypass the just-released, touch-friendly BlackBerry 6 OS in favor of an all-new platform developed by QNX Software Systems. RIM bought QNX back in April for a cool $200 million, by the way.
The Journal adds that RIM might end up eventually ditching its legacy BlackBerry OS altogether, and move to a QNX-based platform for future BlackBerry handsets interesting.
In any case, it looks like the so-called BlackPad assuming it s real, of course is shaping up as a 7-inch, tablet-sized companion for existing BlackBerry users, presumably good for typing e-mails, scheduling appointments, watching videos, and surfing the Web on a large screen.
The BlackPad might also have a leg up on the iPad in terms of its built-in camera and ability to tether with your BlackBerry for 3G access, but I ve got a bad feeling that cellular carriers would demand you pay an extra data fee for the privilege say an extra $10 or $20 a month, similar to the charges users are paying for iPhone tethering or 3G mobile hotspot features. That s just a hunch, though.
It goes without saying (but I ll say it anyway) that the BlackPad is still very much a rumor, and that RIM s only comment about it (according to the Journal) is, essentially, no comment.