RIM BlackBerry PlayBook to be Standalone Tablet Despite Lack of Native Mail App

Tweet

Tablets are the netbook of today. They’re light, cheap (relatively), and everyone wants in on the market. RIM has its much-anticipated PlayBook, but it is said to be limited, without even a native mail application.

Earlier reports say that the BlackBerry PlayBook will not have native messaging applications, but will instead rely on BlackBerry Bridge, which will tether the PlayBook with a compatible BlackBerry smartphone. The BlackBerry Messenger, email and Calendar will instead be synchronized with the data on the smartphone.

This effectively reduces the functionality of the PlayBook, particularly for those who don’t own BlackBerry phones in the first place. In contrast, tablets from other manufacturers–including the Apple iPad and the various Android tablets–at least have native mail and contact applications.

RIM execs defended their decision to exclude native mail, messaging and contact applications on the PlayBook, insisting that the seven-inch tablet will be a good standalone application nonetheless. Senior product manager Ray Bidan said that third-party apps and Web access will compensate for this in the meantime. Bidan also acknowledged the likelihood of native email, contacts and messaging in upcoming firmware updates.