RIM plans to start shipping its PlayBook very soon, according to the RIM senior VP Jim Tobin, who was announcing a deal for Microsoft to handle most of the cloud computing demands of its RIM customers, according to Bloomberg.com.
The Wi-Fi-only PlayBook has a 7-inch screen that is smaller than the iPad’s or Xoom’s 10-inch displays. It uses RIM’s battle-tested QNX operating system but is said to be able to use Android apps. Demonstrations were very impressive in a controlled session at CES. With the reported problems in Android, HP and RIM have the advantage, like Apple, of owning and controlling their tablet OS.
QNX has been used in millions of devices over the last 30 years, from nuclear submarines to medical equipment. RIM expects to eventually use QNX in its smartphones but has said it would not license other companies to use it in tablets and smartphones.
The biggest market for PlayBooks is expected to be the corporates that use Blackberry smartphones.
Tobin told Bloomberg.com that cloud computing is more efficient than traditional PCs with local storage. He said, ”As the smartphone starts to handle more of the work effort versus a desktop, and now you add the tablet, that’s the time” to move away from storing information on computer hard drives and local servers.
HP this week made a major commitment to cloud computing.
To see 4 free editions of The Online Reporter, the weekly source for competitive intelligence about digital content, online entertainment services, mobile media and wireless networks, visit www.onlinereporter.com/trial_copies.php
No comments:
Post a Comment