BlackBerry Tablet BlackPad, iPad Rival will Launch on Sep 27

According to recent news BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) is expected to unveil its BlackPad tablet computer to rival Apple's iPad Monday, 27 Sep. The Wall Street Journal also confirmed that the BlackPad is being launched. The tablet will feature a seven-inch touch screen and one or two built-in cameras and the announcement is likely to be made at its developer's conference in San Francisco.

The BlackPad features like Bluetooth and broadband connections but will only be able to connect to cellular networks through a BlackBerry smartphone.  As reported earlier, the BlackPad will not operate on the newly launched BlackBerry 6 operating system launched in August, but on a new platform built by QNX Software Systems. The tablet won't be sold with a cellular service, leaving unclear which carriers or retailers will sell the device, the journal reported, quoting people familiar with RIM's plans.
The Canadian company BlackBerry maker had acquired Ottawa-based QNX Software Systems for 0 million in April to have exclusive access to its software technology for its tablet. QNX Software Systems is a unique company as its technology powers the six-wheeled unmanned Crusher combat vehicle of the US Army as well as the music, media and navigation systems in cars from BMW and Porsche.

By buying QNX Software Systems, RIM has also brought on board independent software developers who develop applications exclusively for QNX. Since RIM is way behind Apple in offering applications on its devices, QNX's technology is a major boost for the Canadian wireless giant. All future devices from RIM will operate on the QNX operating system, rather than its current operating systems, including BlackBerry 6, which have been termed slow. The BlackPad tablet is being manufactured by Quanta Computer Inc. of Taiwan, and will run on chips from California's Marvell Technology Group Inc., the journal reported, quoting people familar with the the tablet's manufacturing.
  
Though theWaterloo-based Canadian company has posted a record growth in the second quarter and reported high sales of the latest BlackBerry Torch 9800, Apple's iPhone is making big inroads into its corporate and business client base. 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. Along with tough competition with Google Android devices, Microsoft also recently confirmed it is working with partners to produce rivals to the iPad.