[CDATA[Canada-based BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM) has confirmed that South Africa will be among the few countries in the world set to receive its latest 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.]]>
The device’s launch will however take place in Canada next week ahead of its due availability in the US, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The latest PlayBook tablet will have a built-in support for cellular networks, a fundamental feature that its initial models lacked. Other variations of the BlackBerry PlayBook will include ability to support various highp-speed cellular networks.
Despite its launching more than a year ago, the older version of the PlayBook did not have good sales even with huge discounts and software upgrades. It received much criticism from users as it failed to impress them due its lack of basic features including email functionality.
The PlayBook is RIM’s first product to use the QNX operating system that RIM will move onto for its new generation BlackBerry phones, intended to compete with the tough competition from trendier products in the market such as Samsung and iPhones.
This is seen as RIM’s move to maintain its grip on the South African market, as the BlackBerry dominates the South African Smartphone market with 50 percent dominance of the Smartphones presently in use in the SA market.
Smartphones account for 63 percent of the SA market, according to a recent study by InMobi.
