Yesterday, RIM announced their foray into tablet computing by introducing the BlackBerry Playbook. RIM’s new tablet will run an entirely new operating system: BlackBerry Tablet OS.
With any new mobile operating system, we here at CompanionLink immediately begin evaluating its sync capabilities. We currently know from RIM’s announcement that the BlackBerry Playbook will sync with a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, much like the current generation of BlackBerry phones. For standalone or small business users without access to a BES server, we can stipulate that the Playbook will sync directly with the PC using the BlackBerry Desktop Software (again, much like the current BlackBerry devices). If this indeed is the case, then CompanionLink may offer two-way sync with the BlackBerry Playbook from day 1, as CompanionLink works as an add-in within the BlackBerry Desktop Software to sync PC data.
It is currently unknown if Google will support sync with BlackBerry Tablet OS, but given Google’s track record of support for most popular mobile platforms, we would be surprised if Google didn’t have an offering for RIM’s tablets. CompanionLink supports sync of contacts and calendar from the PC to any Google, Gmail, or Google Apps account. Pending Google’s support for BlackBerry Tablet OS, CompanionLink will be able to provide an additional sync option for Playbook owners.
For now, this is all speculation. As we get closer to the launch date for the Playbook, more details will certainly emerge. An official announcement regarding CompanionLink’s sync support for the BlackBerry Playbook will be made as soon as we can confirm compatibility. Details on CompanionLink’s support for BlackBerry devices can be found at www.companionlink.com/blackberry