I read this over at another forum;

This will not have 3G (will need a Blackberry Smartphone to connect to Internet where there is no wifi.

Question- Can you use any smart phone to tethered the playbook or does it really only be tether by a blackberry

Thanks in Advance !

Difficult to say since it hasn't been released yet. All the advance data that I have seen suggests only with a BB, but that could be just marketing spin or more hype.

I just read this in a post here; "But that's also the downside as nobody without a BlackBerry is going to get a RIM tablet."

By- Rambo47 (3rd post down)

Playbook's Competition for 2011

If true this would be a big disappointment in the Tab war

I hope not because I was really interested in this.

That's my assessment (what Dubdub wrote).... You will definitely be able to tether a blackberry (provided your mobile carrier allows it, and under its terms). But don't know about any other mobile device.

What Rambo47 said seems to be the case at least as far as perception. But I hear it from people who don't have blackberry and don't really know anything about it. Still, they have an opinion and they don't think the playbook will do anything for them.

RIM would be limiting their market somewhat if BB tethering was the only option.

To paraphrase the penquin.... RIM needs to up their marketing game.

Latest data that I saw today insists cell network connection will be via BB. Check out the post I made here:

Under $500 when released