MWC 2011: RIM's 4G BlackBerry PlayBook tablets and App World expansion
Monday, March 7, 2011
, Posted by Unknown at 3:44 AM
Research In Motion has unveiled new models of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, along with new countries for its App World store.
Research In Motion has announced plans to launch LTE and HSPA+ models of its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet in the second half of this year, following the debut of the Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi/WiMax models in the first half of 2011.
"We are now building on the BlackBerry PlayBook’s many advantages with support for additional 4G networks that will allow enhanced business opportunities for carriers and developers and unparalleled mobile experiences for users," says president and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis.
RIM has also announced that it's launching its BlackBerry App World smartphone apps store in 27 more countries across Europe, Africa and the West Indies. That means the store is now available in 101 markets around the world, with the 20,000 apps in its catalogue generating two million total downloads a day.
Big news for App World at MWC includes the announcements by T-Mobile and Vodafone that they'll both start offering carrier billing within RIM's store this year across various local subsidiaries.
The company is hoping to spur the development of more innovative apps by chipping in to the BlackBerry Partners Fund II, a VC fund with $150 million to invest in mobile startups. It's launching in 2011, and will apparently have a wider focus than the first BlackBerry Partners Fund, which launched in 2008 and has invested in 13 startups.
"We are very pleased with the positive impact of the first Fund on our mobile ecosystem and we look forward to BlackBerry Partners Fund II bringing additional resources and support to mobile innovators in a broader range of international markets," says co-CEO Jim Balsillie.
RIM has also announced a new BBM Mobile Gifting platform that will allow BlackBerry users to give one another apps, airtime and other operator services using the BBM Messenger service. Finally, RIM has launched a new BlackBerry Travel app for users.
ME’s news coverage of MWC is supported by NewBay, the leader in cloud-based digital content services. NewBay’s LifeCache white label platform enables operators and device makers to deliver a lifetime of content experiences across mobiles, PCs, tablets and TVs. Customers include T-Mobile, Telefónica O2, France Telecom Orange, AT&T, Telstra, LG and more.
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