RIM cheap price tablet pc challenges Apple iPad

RIM said the first quarter of next year, the price below $ 500 PlayBook Tablet PC sold in North America, against Apple iPad.

RIM co-CEO Jim Barr Corbusier (Jim Balsillie) in Seoul, a media interview, said: "This price is highly competitive." While refusing to disclose further details, but he said that this year in September BlackBerry announced PlayBook Tablet PC for the second quarter of next year, the global expansion. iPad starts at $ 499.

Apple iPad detonated in the market for such release between smart phones and laptops, after the demand between the product, RIM, HP, Samsung and Motorola are actively developing tablet pc. Apple iPad April this year, 80 days after the release of 300 million units to achieve the sales, so sales of iPod music players eclipsed.

RIM is trying to Tablet PC with Apple and other vendors to adopt a different strategy, the company's PlayBook Tablet PC can handle the majority of Internet video using Adobe Flash technology, while iPad not support Flash video or animation.
According to the U.S. market research company Strategy Analytics data, Apple Tablet PC in the third quarter global market share of 95%. According to the company estimated that tablet PCs worldwide in the third quarter sales were increased by 26% to 4,400,000 units, of which 4.19 million units Apple iPad exclusive. iPad led
Barr Seeley said today, iPad in the Tablet PC market dominance would "change as we enter the market."
Apple CEO Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs) has said, RIM to attract developers to support the BlackBerry smart phones having a hard time. He also believed that because the screen is too small to compete with the iPad, so PlayBook and other equipment will be "Jianguang Si."
In response, the Bar West was at that time that the user has "tired of the" tightly controlled by Apple's business strategy.
PlayBook with a 7-inch screen, while the iPad the screen size of 9.7 inches.
RIM also wants to use tablet PCs to make up for declining revenue BlackBerry. According to the U.S. data from market research firm IDC, RIM's second quarter of this year, the global smart phone market share from 19% last year fell to 18%. Apple iPhone's market share increased from 13% to 14%, while the use of Google Android smart phone operating system jumped from 1.8% to 17%.
Korea market
Barr Seeley said, RIM may be adopted in the United States Target (Target) and Best Buy and other retailers and operators for sale PlayBook. "May also focus on the two channels." He said.
Bar West, said South Korea will become the first outside the United States sales PlayBook country. But he declined to say specifically how much the second quarter of next year, the State began to sell this product.
Bar West, said: "The Korean market accounted for a very important strategic position, because of its scale and sense of innovation. It will be the first (overseas markets)."
RIM in September this year, up a branch in Korea, the current is hiring sales and service personnel. RIM's office in South Korea in Seoul city will be opened at the end.
Bar West said, RIM late today or early in the Korean market for sale cell phone Blackberry Torch. This is the company's first touch-screen and Qwerty keyboard, will be integrated with smart phones.
The second largest U.S. mobile operator AT & T said Tuesday it will Torch's two-year contract price down to 99.99 from 199.99 dollars. Bar West that, AT & T's sales of this approach on the Torch "very favorable."
"This is a dream come true moment. The new pricing, new promotion, but also coincided with the Christmas shopping season - I put it? Me extremely happy." He said.