Best Buy is making its intentions about the BlackBerry PlayBook very clear – it wants to carry and sell the device when it comes to market. The PlayBook, RIM’s new tablet, is likely going to be a popular tablet with hardcore BlackBerry fanatics, so it makes sense that the huge electronics retailer would want to carry the device.
Chief Executive Brian Dunn said, “When it comes to market, we’re going to be very happy to offer it to our customers.”
If it works out in Best Buy’s favor, RIM won’t have to worry too much about distributing its Blackberry PlayBook. Right now, the tablet as we’ll see it at launch won’t be able to connect to any cellular networks, so we can rule the major carriers out for distributing the device.
However, RIM did say in its press release that 3G and 4G models are in the plans for the future. Until that day comes, retailers like Best Buy, and perhaps Radio Shack, Wal-Mart and others, will probably be the likely destinations for the BlackBerry PlayBook.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Best Buy is moving more aggressively into mobile, devoting more store space to the devices and even offering its own, branded wireless service. The BlackBerry PlayBook will compete for shelf space with Apple’s iPad and the Dell Streak.
Best Buy plans to open as many as 50 new Best Buy mobile stores by Thanksgiving, Mr. Dunn said, as the company moves to capitalize on a shift in consumer demand in favor of powerful portable devices.
It seems that the new tablet could be mutually beneficial for both Blackberry and Best Buy, with the former probably looking for a distribution method and the latter wanting to beef up its mobile armory for its expansion. The post-holiday season looks promising for the tablet world when the PlayBook finally becomes available.
[Via: WSJ]