BlackBerry Forums Support Community
              

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-12-2011, 02:55 PM   #1
Dubdub
Appleinator
 
Dubdub's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Model: App6+
OS: AJBR549
PIN: Ask
Carrier: ATT & Verizon
Posts: 20,038
Default No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Please Login to Remove!

Waaaay back at CES in January, Sprint and RIM announced that they were cooking up a version of the BlackBerry Playbook that played friendly with Sprint’s 4G network. And then… nothing. Months went by, with nary a mention from either of the companies involved.

Alas, it looks like the Sprint 4G Playbook will be buried before it’s even born. Blaming a “lack of demand from business customers” (read: everybody who wants a tablet right now probably already has an iPad or a Xoom), Sprint has killed off plans to launch the device.

It’s unclear whether or not RIM will go on to sell a Sprint-friendly version of the tablet themselves, though it seems rather unlikely. Selling CDMA phones without the carrier’s support is tough enough — but an ultra niche object like a half-baked enterprise-focused tablet? Blyeck.

As the Wall Street Journal points out, this.. isn’t good news for RIM. Sprint was the one major carrier who was willing to back the Playbook — neither AT&T or Verizon wanted to have anything to do with it. While Sprint still offers the WiFi only version of the tablet, it doesn’t seem like they’re planning to stick by the Playbook for much longer. Nail, meet coffin.
__________________
-->>BB FAQ

-->>Stinsonddog's Tip Site!

-->>Twitter


If someone helps, tell them by clicking the Thanks button.!!
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:01 PM   #2
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

And this should not come as a surprise to anyone.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:17 PM   #3
ifonline
Magic Bananas
 
ifonline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Braselton, Georgia
Model: iP4S
OS: 5.1
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 2,350
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Yep. Unfortunate as I think the PlayBook is a great idea. But then there is the problem... I want a great BlackBerry tablet, not a tablet that could be great some time in the future.
__________________
Ian

Semper Fi 3/2/2
"Wow" is now overused. Therefore, I will use "Magic bananas" instead.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:38 PM   #4
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

One of the toughest words in the language is "potential". I think the PlayBook has potential. I realize others love it. I think it has potential.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:38 PM   #5
ArgonNJ
No longer Registered.
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NJ
Model: WP7
OS: The Best
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 1,930
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

I predicted the Playbook would flop from the moment I heard it was in development.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:41 PM   #6
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quite the oracle.
I'll remember to ask you before my next technology purchase.
NOT.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 03:42 PM   #7
ArgonNJ
No longer Registered.
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NJ
Model: WP7
OS: The Best
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 1,930
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry View Post
One of the toughest words in the language is "potential". I think the PlayBook has potential. I realize others love it. I think it has potential.
Problem with RIM is, they simply don't understand the market. They did 5 years ago, but we have all moved on, RIM hasn't. The 2 stooges at the helm are the problem, time for a change.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 04:04 PM   #8
ndub33
Stuck In The '70's Mod
 
ndub33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: The 'burbs east of Seattle.
Model: 9810
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 7,600
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry View Post
One of the toughest words in the language is "potential". I think the PlayBook has potential. I realize others love it. I think it has potential.
I agree. I am more excited about what it could do than what it does today.

I'm a Seattle Mariner fan. I have had first-hand expereince with the toughness of "potential" every spring since 1976.
__________________
1st Step in Troubleshooting: Do you have a BlackBerry Data Plan?
2nd Step in Troubleshooting: Pull the Battery.
Offline  
Old 08-12-2011, 05:43 PM   #9
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Browsing around, I read that RIM cancelled the WiMax Playbook.
That ranks as a Who Cares moment. WiMax has no legs. Or funding.
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 12:48 PM   #10
ArgonNJ
No longer Registered.
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: NJ
Model: WP7
OS: The Best
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 1,930
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry View Post
Browsing around, I read that RIM cancelled the WiMax Playbook.
That ranks as a Who Cares moment. WiMax has no legs. Or funding.
I'm sure some Sprint users would disagree with you.
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 01:06 PM   #11
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Sprint is way too busy blasting the AT&T/T-Mobile merger (we know how well Sprint handles mergers, ask any Nextel customer) and they don't have the funds to complete the WiMax rollout. They continue to lose their best (postpaid/contract) customers and are marketing to more prepaid customers which are less profitable.

You haven't switched to Sprint, have you? You fickle consumer..

Last edited by NJBlackBerry; 08-13-2011 at 01:07 PM..
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:03 PM   #12
Cooper
CrackBerry Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
Model: PRIV
OS: Android 6
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 523
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

I'm not a tablet user myself but I have a PB for work.

This device has some great potential and I think half of RIM's problem is gettin developers on board.

Maybe developers see low user numbers and don't see it as a money making platform, maybe it's the development process and legal stuff... I don't know.

Playbook is great but the release was poor, the updates coming 'later on' are still not here, and now the 3G and 4G versions are not even going to make it to market because nobody cares.

They just took way too long to provide the needed features to make it a really nice device software and feature wise.
__________________
Blackberry History
7250-> Curve 8320-> Bold 9000-> Bold 9700-> Torch 9800-> Bold 9900 + 16GB PlayBook-> BlackBerry Z10
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:23 PM   #13
rambo47
Latino Hasta La Muerte
 
rambo47's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denville, NJ.
Model: 9370
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 9,063
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quote:
Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry View Post
Browsing around, I read that RIM cancelled the WiMax Playbook.
That ranks as a Who Cares moment. WiMax has no legs. Or funding.
Sprint has already said they're moving to LTE. I'm considering a PlayBook, but WiFi-only like my iPad.

What concerns me about the PlayBook is the reliance on a tethered (or "Bridged") BlackBerry to get email. This smacks of the Palm Foleo, which was cancelled on the eve of it's launch.
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:27 PM   #14
Cooper
CrackBerry Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
Model: PRIV
OS: Android 6
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 523
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Quote:
Originally Posted by rambo47 View Post
Sprint has already said they're moving to LTE. I'm considering a PlayBook, but WiFi-only like my iPad.

What concerns me about the PlayBook is the reliance on a tethered (or "Bridged") BlackBerry to get email. This smacks of the Palm Foleo, which was cancelled on the eve of it's launch.
If you need access to exchange, yeah it's a bit of an annoyance.

gmail or anything web based works pretty well, and even outlook web access works fairly well so I'd say the 'reliance' isn't so bad.

It would be lovely to see this promised feature... they're at least 30 days (business days) late on this.
__________________
Blackberry History
7250-> Curve 8320-> Bold 9000-> Bold 9700-> Torch 9800-> Bold 9900 + 16GB PlayBook-> BlackBerry Z10
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 03:27 PM   #15
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Rambo I share those sentiments. I only buy WiFi only devices (and use a MiFi like device) and think the reliance on bridged-only email is a fatal flaw which hasn't been corrected...
Offline  
Old 08-13-2011, 04:42 PM   #16
rambo47
Latino Hasta La Muerte
 
rambo47's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denville, NJ.
Model: 9370
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 9,063
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

RIM has been promising stand-alone email for the PlayBook for some time now but it's still MIA.
Offline  
Old 08-14-2011, 06:54 AM   #17
hrbuckley
BlackBerry Extraordinaire
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Model: LEZ10
OS: 10.0.10
Carrier: Rogers CA
Posts: 1,704
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

The rumour mill keeps saying they are trying to use their PIN based push mail delivery system but have to make significant changes. I suspect that if they rolled out a POP3/IMAP client most people would be happy with that.
__________________
My other Blackberry is a PlayBook.
Offline  
Old 08-14-2011, 07:43 AM   #18
juwaack68
iPhone Convert
 
juwaack68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tulip City - MI
Model: iP5
OS: 6.0.2
PIN: to beans
Carrier: I'm not
Posts: 13,878
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

At BlackBerry World this year (first week of May) Mike L. stood up and said the PlayBook would have an email client in 60 days.

Obviously he didn't mean 60 days from then.....
__________________
No longer a BES Admin, but it was fun while it lasted!
Offline  
Old 08-14-2011, 07:52 AM   #19
aiharkness
BlackBerry God
 
aiharkness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Florida Panhandle
Model: BBPP
OS: 10.3.3
Carrier: T-Mobile USA
Posts: 14,081
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

Hopefully he didn't mean Biblical days.

It's one thing to be out of touch with consumers, which I don't really mind. But out of touch with your own company?

It's hard not to be embarrassed for him.
__________________
- Ira
Offline  
Old 08-15-2011, 08:10 PM   #20
smoothadmin
Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Model: 9860
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Virgin Mobile Canada
Posts: 257
Default Re: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand

RIM scrapped the playbook 2... Look in the BB News forum

A.
Offline  
Closed Thread


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads for: No Sprint 4G Playbook - no demand
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
BlackBerry and the Sprint Airave...Not bad. RemyJ General BlackBerry Discussion 13 09-10-2008 11:52 AM
Sprint eyes sale of Nextel's iDen network Dawg Rumor Mill 8 08-10-2008 07:03 PM
Sprint On Demand? SheepDog General Legacy Device Discussion 14 12-19-2007 08:18 AM
VPN access through PAM problem SPRINT 8703e stimmer6253472 General Legacy Device Discussion 0 12-12-2007 05:42 PM


Fanuc Flash Memory Module A20B-2901-0891/01A picture

Fanuc Flash Memory Module A20B-2901-0891/01A

$374.95



ETERFANT Dental LED Flash Photography Oral Cell Phone Camera Filling Light Tools picture

ETERFANT Dental LED Flash Photography Oral Cell Phone Camera Filling Light Tools

$63.89



CH341A 24 25 Series EEPROM Flash BIOS USB Programmer Module + SOIC8 Test Clip picture

CH341A 24 25 Series EEPROM Flash BIOS USB Programmer Module + SOIC8 Test Clip

$7.98



Edwards Signals Flashing Light with Horn Red Lens 120V AC, 7 3/8 Ht 6

Edwards Signals Flashing Light with Horn Red Lens 120V AC, 7 3/8 Ht 6" Dia

$59.95



NSA Enespro AGP 40cal Arc Flash Kit w/ Lift Front Hood, No Gloves ARC40KITNG-XL picture

NSA Enespro AGP 40cal Arc Flash Kit w/ Lift Front Hood, No Gloves ARC40KITNG-XL

$778.36



LP Weather Logic Seam And Flashing Tape (boxes) picture

LP Weather Logic Seam And Flashing Tape (boxes)

$150.00







Copyright © 2004-2016 BlackBerryForums.com.
The names RIM © and BlackBerry © are registered Trademarks of BlackBerry Inc.