RIM sells BlackBerry PlayBook's business side

RIM's latest video shows how the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet pairs with a BlackBerry phone to protect businesses. The real problem is, how does RIM engage its other prospective buyers?

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Editorial Director, Content Operations

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Thought Leadership, Speed Desk and How-To. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica led CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Jan. 31, 2011 2:03 p.m. PT

BlackBerry's first tablet gets a launch date and price tag. — BlackBerry's first tablet targets business types. Research In Motion

RIM has taken a lot of flak from CNET and others for its decision to pair the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with a BlackBerry smartphone (via the BlackBerry Bridge software) to access native e-mail, contacts, and calendar features as well as a 3G data connection.

Today, RIM released a video aimed at the business crowd (see below). It shows how connecting the two devices preserves the corporate security features for which RIM is known. Pairing a BlackBerry smartphone with a BlackBerry PlayBook essentially extends the smartphone's account to the tablet. E-mail management appears nearly instant on the video, and we're told that the secured, encrypted content disappears after the devices unpair.

IT policy isn't exciting by most definitions, but for a company that has built its name on keeping content away from prying eyes better than its competitors, RIM cannot afford to ignore the business segment.

That said, it seems that RIM's problem isn't going to be convincing existing corporate partners of the PlayBook's information security. It's this: with the Bridge tethering software in place, RIM will have to toil even harder to position its PlayBook as a consumer tablet that everyone should want and buy.

CNET will continue to keep a close eye on the BlackBerry PlayBook's development. We'll also be attending a RIM panel on developer tools later this week. Keep reading for news on the PlayBook tablet.

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