Follow Us:
19

Hints in latest software update point to imminent release of PlayBook 4G

By on April 18, 2012 at 10:17am in Mobile News


If you weren’t entirely certain of the upcoming release of a PlayBook 4G, you can rest easy now. Despite not being officially announced, RIM let the news slip in a portion of the Help document in an update released earlier this week.

In a case of good sleuthing, one CrackBerry member found an entry for how to “Insert a micro SIM card” into the Playbook. Problem is, current versions are WiFi-only. It’s only a matter of time until its release now, as we’ve had word the upgraded tablet is in testing with Rogers, TELUS and Bell. Considering it was supposed to launch in “early April,” it could be announced any time now.

We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the full story as it comes.

Source: CrackBerry

  • Here Comes the Cavalary

    Just at the exact moment when we were all picking our clothes for RIM’s funeral proceedings….they come back STRONGER THAN EVER and turn the mobile tablet industry upside down, inside out, side to side twice for good measure by releasing “Hints in latest software update that point to imminent release of PlayBook 4G”!!!!!!

    They’ve pulled it off again and are BACK in a BEHEMOTH WAY!!!

    Take note Apple and Android, your days are numbered, the BBBBs are back! (Big Back Blackberry Boys)

    RIM IS CANADIAN and so is Alnur Ismail
    GO RIM GO!!!

    I love Canadian success stories!

    • Here Comes the Cavalry

      *BBBB = Big Bad Blackberry Boys

      I am so excited I made a typo! It was a combination of that and using a crappy touchscreen. Where is my Bold 9900!

    • Hermanski

      What makes you think people will want this POS? It’s the same garbage as before but now with a sim slot…very innovative RIM. I’m sure people will go bizzerk for this – high demand product right here.

  • Alex Perrier

    i am really looking forward to this. Knowing RIM, it will almost certainly support multiple carriers including AWS operators such as WIND, Mobilicity and Viédotron. RIM would be at a big disadvantage if they only dealt with Big 3 carriers like Apple does with its iOS devices.

    What i hope this means is that the PlayBook will be sold at about (based on Curve 9360 prices) $350 outright (later lowered to $300), and $0-$99 with a contract depending on how much customers spend per month for mobile Internet.

    Hip hip hooray for RIM! :)

    • gab = math wiz

      If you think it is going to work with Wind/Mobilicity, then you better practice cutting your sims into micro sims.

      Also, you suck.

  • bizzarre

    How about just releasing BBM for the PB??
    How about just releasing BES for the PB??

    It’s been over one yr and the PB is approaching end of life.
    If Apple truly releases the ipad in 7″ the only way to sell PBs will be at $99.

  • vn33

    Not a BB user, but still rooting for RIM. It would be a failure for the Canadian Technology sector if this fine company goes down the drain.

    • bizzarre

      You can’t support a company JUST because is Canadian. You have to support a company because is Competitive and gives you something that you WANT to buy.

      Raspberry Pie,
      Pebble.
      I want one of those!

      Playbook: I will get one when it drops to $99
      A BB phone? no thanks I prefer a Samsung W prepaid with Virgin for $199 ( works with the big 3 AND has AWS so it works with new entrants too)
      My Pity-love for RIM ended last yr.

  • Mitchell

    They are hosting blackberry world in may (beginning) so I would expect that any major announcement like this one would be done then.

  • Me

    Fail

  • Darryl

    K… sold my highend android device and bought the bold 9900 so I could bridge with my Playbook…. and that there is all the difference. I’m constantly tethered through Bridge and find my playbook is an extension of my phone. There’s no need to play games or watch video on my phone when I have my PB. Also, if I am surfing on the net, with one click I can open the site on my PB and continue surfing there.
    I think it must be frustrating for those who bought the playbook due to price but aren’t committed to RIMM and still use an iPhone or Android. They must feel like they’re not unlocking the full potential of the PB… and in truth, they’re not!

  • 3df

    Will this come with better specs, new features, and a redesigned look? If not, I don’t really see why anyone who can pick up a $200 wifi version will get one of these.

    Playbooks, as great as they are, are losing money per unit sold. If everything else is the same other than the SIM slot, I don’t think many people will opt for this unless it comes in at ~$200-$250 (16GB). And even then, it seems like this product will make RIM lose money.

    I hope RIM will get out of their slump. I really do. But I don’t see how adding a SIM slot will appeal to many consumers, so I hope there is something else to the new playbook that RIM hasn’t leaked out yet.

  • lukeiphone

    Honestly speaking, I really support RIM and want the best for them.

  • Dylan D

    I hardly think a 4G version of the playbook is going to be the soul contender to freeing RIM’s current decline.

    • Dylan D

      That doesn’t mean I dislike RIM. I have a playbook and I really like it. But by no means do I think this is going to be their big turn around, something that should have been available from the start.

  • Faisal Ali

    Glad to see my post made it here on Mobilesyrup over from Crackberry :p

    We DID know a 4G PlayBook was in the works, ever since the announcement of the PlayBook back at Devcon in 2010 they blatantly stated the PlayBook will be coming out with 3/4G Variants. Not exactly super duper surprising BUT, at least now we know it’s closer :D

    As for the PlayBook, honestly it’s still a great tablet, the most HTML5 compliant devices out there as far as tablets go, the hardware build quality is top notch, the QNX based OS is nice and slick. There’s a lot to like about the PlayBook, the experience is MUCH better when you also have a BlackBerry Smartphone.

  • andy c

    unless i can get the wifi only version for $99 for my dad i’m not really interested.

  • Robert

    From what I understand, the new PlayBooks will have:
    - 3G (HSPA+), or 4G LTE models
    - 1.5 GHz CPU
    - NFC enabled
    - BBM (I would think it would have BES/Fusion, but not certain)
    - OS 2.1

    These features would put it about two years ahead of the MaxiPad (Oops, I mean iPad3).
    Not sure what the price structure will be, but I doubt it would be as stupid as the MaxiPad.

  • nomad

    Since it’ll be 4G it will be subsidized by carriers. For example, you might be able to get one for $100 or less with a 2 year contract. Not saying that it would be successful, but I do see the strategy behind the move. Plus, RIM can’t abandon the playbook because it’s running their next os and they need users in order to encourage developers to make apps for it.