Blackberry phones have already gone head to head with Apple Iphones, but now Research In Motion (RIM) has announced on Friday that the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet — its contender to the popular Apple Ipad — will finally be available in the Philippines starting the 6th August 2011.

The BlackBerry’s first tablet computer will come in three Wi-Fi models, featuring 16 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of memory storage, and will be available nation-wide from authorized retail stores and mobile operators with a 12-month warranty. Sorry, folks, no 3-G support; but that’s what Blackberry cell phones are there for.

“The BlackBerry PlayBook is an incredibly powerful and feature-rich tablet that is ideal for both business and personal use," said Gregory Wade, Regional Managing Director at Research In Motion, in a press release posted on the RIM website.

“You really need to hold the BlackBerry PlayBook in your hand to fully appreciate how much it stands out in terms of power and portability, and so we encourage customers to visit a retail store and try it out for themselves," added Wade.

The PlayBook weighs less than a half a kilogram (425g) and is less than half an inch thick, sporting a 7-inch WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen (1024 x 600). It supports Bluetooth 2.1, Adobe Flash, true multitasking, high definition (HD) multimedia, advanced security features, and out-of-the-box enterprise support.

BlackBerry PlayBook specifications include a 1 GHz dual-core processor; dual HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear); 1 GB RAM memory; GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer); stereo speakers and stereo microphones.

Prices are P23,990 for 16GB PlayBook, P28,990 for the 32GB version, and P33,990 for the 64GB version. — TJD, GMA News