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A patent by BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion has been dug up featuring a tablet-style device, potentially confirming the rumoured Cobalt device. The patent itself, “Touch-screen Device Having Soft Escape Key“, isn’t especially interesting, although it does indicate that the usual back and menu keys we’ve been used to seeing on BlackBerrys might be skipped with the upcoming tablet in favour of gesture-based or software keys.
The possibility of a BlackBerry tablet is even more interesting after RIM co-CEO seemed less than enthusiastic about the form factor, although RIM’s PR team was quick to correct me that he wasn’t totally ragging on tablets. We’ve got a variety of information about this supposed device – the screen is likely to be 8.9″, act as a companion to BlackBerry with sync capabilities, will be slimmer than an iPad, and though originally estimated to release in early Q4 of this year, it probably won’t make it to market until 2011. Still, take it all with a grain of salt – we’ve seen other funky designs in patent applications that never see the light of day, and despite all the talk about a BlackBerry device, we have yet to see and solid pictures of a device proper.
[via BBLeaks]
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
