Rumor: Maker of BlackBerry Developing iPad Competitor
BlackBerry might be releasing a tablet computer and investors like the news. After The Wall Street Journal published an article on the product, which would compete with the iPad, shares rose 3%. It is believed that the new product could be formally announced by BlackBerry next week at a developer's conference in San Francisco.
The iPad has already been a hit for Apple, selling millions. The BlackBerry product, which some have already dubbed the "BlackPad," will have a seven inch touch screen, Bluetooth, broadband and the ability to connect to cellular networks through a BlackBerry smartphone, as well as one or more built in cameras, according to sources cited in the story.
In a related but somewhat stunning development, The Wall Street Journal says that the iPad competitor will not use the recently unveiled BlackBerry 6 operating system. Instead, it will use a new platform built by QNX Software Systems.
The announcement of a competing product to the iPad is no surprise, Samsung, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Cisco have all either produced or in the process of producing a tablet computer.
So how does the release of the BlackPad impact your law practice? Chances are that it will only mean that you will have more choices. We have seen this pattern before with iPods: Apple produces a product that becomes the market leader, but naturally the product does not have every feature that some users would like. Then competitors give it a go and try to create a better mouse trap and knock Apple off its pedestal.
If you're looking for a tablet device to use for your practice, you should definitely keep an eye out for the announcement of the BlackBerry "BlackPad." There is certainly a lot of potential for using tablet computers at your office and on the road. It will be interesting to see what new features the BlackBerry tablet has and how the user experience differs from competing products.
Related Resources:
- RIM Acquires Documents to Go: Will Your Productivity Benefit? (FindLaw's Technologist)
- BlackBerry Ban in India Delayed 2 Months (FindLaw's Technologist)
- New BlackBerry Torch Unveiled: Will Lawyers Love It? (FindLaw's Technologist)