Jan

BlackBerry PlayBook is Now Priced at a Flat $299 Rate

The BlackBerry PlayBook from Research In Motion has been seen with price varying more than the statistical curves that indicate the world’s financial state. A 16 GB model was available at one time for $199 and the 64 GB for $299. The same tablets on other days are priced at $499 which is also the price that RIM had placed on their tablet at the time of its introduction into the market.

Currently RIM is offering all their models of the BlackBerry PlayBook at a price of $299. Well, you have heard (or read) it right. Any PlayBook tablet device, be it with 16, 32 or 64 GB of storage would all cost the same $299. That it is the 64 GB version that would be the hottest pick is all to evident. In fact, the move could be to push sales of the highest speced version as it is the 16 and 32 GB version that has been more in demand owing to their cheaper price tags. RIM may have managed to get rid of all remaining stocks of the 16 and 32 GB versions but not of the top end models. The latest move might be what is needed to achieve that.

However, the offer is not valid at retail stores where the Blackberry PlayBook is on sale for $499 and above. One needs to go to the official BlackBerry store to pick up the tablet at the offer price of $299.

Also, if the TouchPad may have etched its name in the annals of tablet history for the steepest discount ever offered, the PlayBook may also have done the same with perhaps the most pricing experiment ever conducted on a tablet from a frontline manufacturer. What is common though is that the trick has worked for both the tablet PCs, which proves once again that pricing will always be crucial to a product’s (read tablet’s) success or failure. In case of the PlayBook, this might be a good time to pick up the tablet before RIM introduces the much awaited OS update next month. In any case, the next gen PlayBook is also due though we haven’t heard much on that as yet.

Maybe, the upcoming CES might have the answer.

via cnet

Sovan Mandal (1916 Posts)

Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email