The BlackBerry PlayBook hasn’t exactly been as popular as RIM had hoped, and now we get to find out some details on how many of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablets that RIM has shipped this year.
According to a recent report by Liliputing, it looks like RIM may have shipped around 850,000 PlayBook tablets this year, with only around 150,000 shipped for the quarter ending on the 26th of November.
Challenges Faced by the BlackBerry PlayBook
The BlackBerry PlayBook faced several challenges in the competitive tablet market. One of the primary issues was the lack of native email, calendar, and contact apps at launch, which were critical features for business users who were the primary target audience. Additionally, the PlayBook’s reliance on a BlackBerry smartphone for these functionalities through the BlackBerry Bridge app was seen as a cumbersome solution.
Another significant challenge was the app ecosystem. Compared to competitors like Apple’s iPad and Android tablets, the PlayBook had a limited selection of apps available in the BlackBerry App World. This limitation made it less appealing to consumers who were looking for a versatile device that could handle a wide range of applications.
Efforts to Boost Sales
RIM recently dropped the price of the tablet by $200 for a limited time in order to increase sales of the PlayBook. This price reduction was a strategic move to make the PlayBook more competitive against other tablets in the market. It will be interesting to see if this has helped RIM sell more of their BlackBerry tablets.
In addition to the price drop, RIM also released several software updates to address some of the initial shortcomings of the PlayBook. These updates included the addition of native email, calendar, and contact apps, as well as improvements to the overall user experience. Despite these efforts, the PlayBook struggled to gain significant traction in the market.
Another strategy RIM employed was to target enterprise customers by highlighting the PlayBook’s security features and its ability to integrate seamlessly with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. However, this approach had limited success as many businesses were already transitioning to other platforms that offered a broader range of applications and better support.
Despite these challenges, the PlayBook did have some positive aspects. The device was praised for its build quality, with a solid and premium feel. The 7-inch display was also well-received for its clarity and responsiveness. Additionally, the PlayBook’s multitasking capabilities were considered superior to many of its competitors at the time.
Looking forward, it remains to be seen how RIM will address the ongoing challenges with the PlayBook and whether future iterations of the device will be able to capture a larger share of the tablet market. The company’s ability to innovate and adapt to the rapidly changing technology landscape will be crucial in determining the PlayBook’s long-term success.
Source Liliputing
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