RIM launches Blackberry Playbook OS 2.0

WorldWide Tech Science. Francisco De Jesús.

RIM announced availability of its BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, which adds some long anticipated features to the company’s tablet device.

The most obvious feature of PlayBook OS 2.0 is the addition of a native email app, which also offers a unified inbox consolidating messages from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter alongside mails. The lack of such an app was one of the most highlighted issues when the PlayBook was first launched,  being especially notable due to RIM’s established strength in messaging.

The update also adds a built-in calendar app which collects information from social networks, and a contact app which similarly is able to pull information from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

PlayBook OS 2.0 also sees the BlackBerry Bridge app updated, providing enhanced connectivity between a BlackBerry smartphone and the tablet. This includes a “remote control” feature, which allows a handset to be used as a wireless keyboard and mouse for a PlayBook.

The other headline feature is the addition of support for Android apps tailored to the PlayBook, which are available through the vendor’s BlackBerry App World store. While it has not stated how many apps are already available through this initiative, it has previously indicated that interest has been strong.

RIM has previously seen disappointing sales of the PlayBook, shipping just 150,000 units in the quarter to the end of November 2011.  The company has cut the price of the device drastically, in order to drive sales of its inventory.

While PlayBook 2.0 addresses many of the shortcomings in the device, it is late in itself – it had been anticipated for availability last year.

Press Release

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Available Today.

New OS delivers an enriched user experience for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet users

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) announced that the new BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0 will be released for download today. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 delivers an enhanced tablet experience and allows you to use the BlackBerry PlayBook in new ways throughout the day - at work and at play. 

“Building on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s proven web browsing, multimedia and multitasking strengths, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 introduces a range of new communications and productivity enhancements as well as expanded app and content support,” said David J. Smith, SVP Mobile Computing, Research In Motion.

New BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 features include:

• Integrated email client with a powerful unified inbox: With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 you have the option to use a  unified inbox that consolidates all messages in one place, including messages from Facebook®, LinkedIn® and Twitter®, as well as personal and work email accounts.
• Social Integration with Calendar and Contacts apps:  The built-in calendar harnesses information from social networks and makes it available where and when users need it.  Contact cards are also dynamically populated with updated information from Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to create a consolidated view of contacts.
• Updated BlackBerry Bridge app: BlackBerry® Bridge™ is a unique app that provides a Bluetooth® connection between your BlackBerry PlayBook and core apps on your BlackBerry® smartphone (including BBM™, Email, Contacts, Calendar and Browser) in order to let you view the content on the larger tablet display. With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, it’s easier and quicker than ever to take documents, web pages, emails and photos that appear on your BlackBerry smartphone and display them on your BlackBerry PlayBook for an optimized viewing and editing experience. The updated BlackBerry Bridge app also provides a new remote control feature that allows a BlackBerry smartphone to be used as a wireless keyboard and mouse for a BlackBerry PlayBook.
• Improved mobile productivity: Updated document editing functions, the new Print To Go app, and increased control and manageability of corporate data with BlackBerry® Balance ™ allow you to get more out of your BlackBerry PlayBook every day. Plus, an updated virtual keyboard with auto correction and predictive next word completion learns how you type to enable faster, more accurate typing.
• New apps and content: Thousands of new apps are being added to BlackBerry App World™ today (including a range of Android® apps that will run on the BlackBerry PlayBook). A new BlackBerry Video Store1 is launching today. Enhanced web browsing capabilities are also available with BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.

In conjunction with the release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, RIM is making available an initial release of BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion that will include support for managing BlackBerry PlayBook tablets and BlackBerry smartphones2 in an enterprise. The full release of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion (with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices) is planned for general availability in late March 2012. For more information about BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, please visit www.blackberry.com/mobilefusion.

Availability 

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software update is now available as a free download for all BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.  

Additional Reference Material

• Inside BlackBerry blog post
• BlackBerry PlayBook web page
• BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 - How to Video
• Developer’s Getting Started web page

1) BlackBerry Video Store will initially be available in the United States. Support for other countries is expected to be added later this year.

2) BlackBerry Mobile Fusion Studio can be used to manage BlackBerry smartphones through a single unified console, supporting devices activated on BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0.3 or later.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. RIM is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.