Tablets are a natural upsell to smartphones, and therefore it comes as no surprise that handset manufacturers are falling over themselves to produce one of their very own.
The latest in could-be tablet makers is none other than Blackberry maker, RIM, with word on the Chinese street that the firm has put in an order for 8.9-inch touchscreens with local manufacturer, Hon Hai.
CrackBerry.com reports that while RIM is keeping quiet about its purchase, sources at its Chinese partner are not, with chatter indicating that the screens are due to be dropped on RIMs doorstep in the latter half of the third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2010. Which may or may not mean that RIM will have something to show for itself by Christmas.
It’s worth noting, however, that the smartphone maker recently acquired QNX Software, a company which makes car infotainment systems for a living – an industry which also requires nine to 10 inch touchscreens.
Although, if you ask us, RIM would be missing out on a huge opportunity if it chose to throw its not insignificant weight behind a car infotainment system rather than an ‘all-the-rage’ tablet.
