RIM to announce BlackPad as early as next week; carries new OS: report

RIM, still playing catch-up despite its recently released BlackBerry Torch, (shown) may introduce a rumored tablet as soon as next week, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The tablet will use a new OS, not BlackBerry OS 6, and may be announced at a RIM press briefing scheduled Monday before its developer conference in San Francisco at the Moscone Center.

Sources told the WSJ that the tablet, dubbed inside (and outside) RIM as the BlackPad, is scheduled for release in Q4, with a 7" touchscreen and at least one, and perhap two (front- and rear-facing, in that instance) cameras. (It was recently reported that RIM filed for a trademark in Canada: SurfBook. Still, it's obvious why BlackPad fits in with its BlackBerry devices.)

The sources added that the device will have wi-fi connectivity, but only be able to connect to 3G using a BlackBerry smartphone (most likely, tethered). That would seem to be a rather strange, somewhat crippling, decision in this time of iPads and Galaxy Tabs with built-in 3G.

It also remains to be seen how the device will be sold, if it comes without cellular service.  Would carriers still sell the BlackPad, or will it be sold through retailers such as Best Buy?

Mneawhile, sources said the BlackPad will drop the BlackBerry 6 OS, and use a new OS developed by QNX Software Systems, which RIM acquired earlier this year. RIM plans to transition its BlackBerry smartphones to the same OS later, the sources added.

RIM's had a tough time of late, not only facing possible bans in countries such as Saudi Arabia and India, but losing market share to both the iOS and Android. It was hoped that the BlackBerry Torch would "stem the bleeding" but sales have underwhelmed analysts thus far.