Research in Motion has today revealed their tablet device, dubbed the “PlayBook“, will be available in Australia from June 20 starting at $579.
RIM's PlayBook to arrive in Australia June 20 (Credit: RIM)
Carriers including Vodafone, Optus and Telstra will sell the business-focused device on their own respective plans and deals to be announced closer to June 20, while Harvey Norman will also make the tablet, which has seen both optimistic and not so optimistic reviews in the US, available for sale from Monday, June 20.
Features of the tablet – which will come in 16GB, 32GB or 64GB iterations – include a 1 GHz dual-core processor, a 7″ LCD display which boasts support for multi-touch and gestures, 1GB of RAM and an accelerometer, gyroscope, in-built GPS and digital compass.
It also boasts support for Adobe Flash player, as well as video calling using the 3MP front-facing camera or 5MP rear-facing one.
The price, which will start at exactly the same as Apple’s iPad 2 device in Australia ($579), will become perhaps the most crucial element to the tablet’s success. So far, few tablet devices sold in Australia have been able to match the iPad’s price point with many, including the recently launched Motorola XOOM selling for a much higher price.
“The launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook is a highly anticipated event for both consumers and business users in Australia and we are proud to deliver this standout tablet to the marketplace,” RIM’s Managing Director in Australia, Adele Beachley said in a statement this morning.
“We are excited to provide customers with the opportunity to check out the BlackBerry PlayBook first hand at their carriers’ stores or retailers across the country.”
