BlackBerry PlayBook Lives On As RIM Still Committed to Selling It; Even at a Loss?

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Earlier today we reported on rumors suggesting that Research in Motion is planning to discontinue the BlackBerry PlayBook, a QNX-running tablet that failed to become the best-selling device the company envisioned.

But it looks like RIM is not ready to call it quits, like HP did with the now-famous TouchPad, as the Canadian-based company will continue to produce and sell the tablet.

“Rumors suggesting that the BlackBerry PlayBook is being discontinued are pure fiction. RIM remains highly committed to the tablet market and the future of QNX in its platform,” said Marisa Conway, a RIM spokeswoman.

What else could they say, really? Admit defeat and move on? Wouldn’t such action effectively bury the QNX platform before it had a chance to actually live on its own?

To date the company reported about 700,000 PlayBook shipments in a quarter and a half, which is definitely not the kind of number RIM, should be proud of, especially with reports suggesting that Apple will announce around 12 million iPad 2 sales for the quarter ending in September.

Let’s not forget that RIM is going to launch QNX smartphones soon, and hopefully the platform will grow in the coming months. The question is, will RIM’s current customer base wait for the company to shape up or will they simply choose smart mobile devices from the competition?

Those of you interested in a PlayBook tablet, and the device is not that bad, but it’s clearly in no position of fighting the iPad, or the plethora of Android tablets out there, can get one for a discounted price from various retailers. And considering that the $199 Kindle Fire has just been announced, the PlayBook’s price can only down from here on, especially considering the Christmas shopping season coming up.

Will you buy a PlayBook or would you rather purchase a Fire?