This week Research in Motion announced a tablet device, named the “BlackBerry PlayBook”, that appears to exceed the specifications of the iPad in every respect other than screen-size. The device, which will debut in the second half of 2011, will have a dual-core processor and 1Gb of memory, a variety of input/output ports, and two cameras (i.e. the ability to videoconference).

Most important for our customers, the PlayBook will run Flash 10.1, and therefore should support both the FileOpen Viewer and our recently released BlackBerry client. This would enable distribution of the same FileOpen-encrypted document to the BlackBerry, PlayBook, and on standard Windows/Macintosh/Linux computers.

The PlayBook will work immediately with BlackBerry Enterprise servers. It runs a Unix-derived microkernel operating system (QNX) that RIM acquired along with the company of the same name earlier this year. Reports describe the OS as extremely secure and capable of true multitasking, something the iOS can’t currently provide. The seven inch screen is smaller than the iPad’s by two inches, but this may be intentional (there are rumors that the next version of the iPad will include a model with a seven-inch screen). 

Check out our press release announcing our support of the BlackBerry platform for document distribution, and stay tuned for more announcements as we extend secure document sharing to the world of smartphones and tablets.