Things are certainly not looking good for Research in Motion Ltd., with its latest announcement adding to a growing list of setbacks for its first tablet. With lower than expected sales of PlayBook, RIM was forced to offer its first tablet at a cheap cost. And now, the Canadian company announced that it will write off its inventory of Playbook tablets.
Given the low price of $200 from $500, RIM said it will have a pre-tax charge of $485 million as the tablet’s value goes down.
Challenges Faced by the PlayBook
The tablet’s sales have not skyrocketed since its release, forcing RIM to lower prices and even offer generous packages to lure companies to adopt its new tablet. The PlayBook faced stiff competition from other tablets in the market, such as Apple’s iPad and various Android tablets, which already had a strong foothold. Additionally, the PlayBook was criticized for its lack of native email and calendar apps at launch, which are essential features for business users.
RIM attempted to address these issues by releasing software updates and offering incentives, but the initial negative reception had already impacted consumer confidence. The PlayBook’s reliance on being tethered to a BlackBerry smartphone for certain functionalities also limited its appeal to a broader audience.
RIM’s Commitment to the PlayBook
While it remains to be seen if PlayBook will still be able to recover from poor sales, RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis stressed that the company will stand by its first tablet and continue to develop its full potential. RIM has been working on improving the PlayBook’s operating system, known as QNX, which is praised for its multitasking capabilities and smooth performance. The company hopes that future updates and enhancements will make the PlayBook more attractive to both consumers and enterprise users.
Moreover, RIM has been exploring partnerships and collaborations to expand the PlayBook’s ecosystem. By encouraging developers to create more apps for the PlayBook, RIM aims to address one of the major criticisms regarding the limited availability of applications compared to other platforms.
Despite the setbacks, RIM remains optimistic about the future of the PlayBook. The company believes that with continuous improvements and strategic marketing, the PlayBook can still carve out a niche in the competitive tablet market. RIM’s dedication to its tablet is evident in its ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience and provide value to its customers.
The journey of the PlayBook has been challenging for Research in Motion Ltd. The initial setbacks and lower than expected sales have forced the company to make significant adjustments, including a substantial write-off of its inventory. However, RIM’s commitment to improving the PlayBook and its determination to support its first tablet demonstrate the company’s resilience and willingness to adapt. Only time will tell if these efforts will pay off and if the PlayBook can eventually find its place in the market.
Via: news24.com
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