According to many news reports today, including one on AppleInsider, BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) looks likely to unveil its iPad rival tablet next week at a BlackBerry Developer Conference in San Francisco, California. The Wall Street Journal reports that strong sources familiar with RIM's decisions have confirmed that the tablet, rumoured to be called the "BlackPad", will have a seven-inch touch screen and "one or two" cameras. Surprisingly, the sources say that the RIM tablet will not be using the BlackBerry 6 OS, and will instead run on a new OS that has been developed by QNX, a company that RIM acquired earlier this year.

Other information about the RIM device is that it will support Bluetooth and broadband, as well as tethering via a BlackBerry phone. Sources also say that Quanta Computer, the world's biggest notebook manufacturer, has a contract to make the devices, using chips provided by the Marvell Technology Group.
RIM, which is as tight-lipped as Apple on such matters, refused to make any comment on all the various rumours from various sources.

Source: AppleInsider, Wall Street Journal

Let's hope the rumors are true. Truth be told, I've been aching to see some world class iPad alternatives, and being familiar with RIM's track record I have high hopes for this so called BlackPad tablet.


Will from Tablet Reviews.