Blackberry 'to launch iPad rival'

By Emma Barnett, Digital Media Editor

Samsung has already launched its own iPad rival, seen on the right, next to Apple's iPad. Photo: EPA The rival tablet style computer, which certain RIM employees are calling the BlackPad, is expected to be revealed next week at a developer’s conference in San Francisco.

The Wall Street Journal is citing “people familiar with RIM’s plan” as its source for the story, which says that the BlackPad is set to launch in the final part of this year.

The RIM tablet is expected to have a brand new operating system, built by QNX Software Systems, which the company acquired earlier this year, instead of the new Blackberry 6 OS.

The Blackberry iPad rival is expected to have a built in camera and a seven-inch touch screen.

Microsoft recently confirmed it is working with partners to produce rivals to the iPad.

Blackberry’s share of global smartphone sales fell by one per cent to 18 per cent year on year, in the second quarter of 2010, according to Gartner. The company is facing increasingly stiff competition from Apple and Android-powered smartphones.
Telegraph