Research in Motion announces a 4G LTE Blackberry Playbook

CANADIAN PHONE MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has announced the 4G LTE Blackberry Playbook, which will make its debut in Canada next week.

Unveiled on the Blackberry blog, the 4G Playbook has built-in support for 4G LTE networks and RIM will launch it on selected carriers in its home town on 9 August.

RIM boasts, "Whether you've got to do a web search for some information, answer that urgent email, or check in on your social networks, this tablet is there when you need it, serving up the details at the speed you need them."

Other than its support for high-speed connectivity, it sports specifications similar to its last-generation sibling, which can now be picked up for a mere £150 in the UK. It features a 7in 600x1024 touchscreen, a 1GHz Cortex-A9 processor, dual 5MP and 3MP cameras, HD 1080p video, 32GB of storage and RIM's latest Blackberry 2.0.1 operating system.

The tablet's 4G LTE connectivity means that it won't be coming to the UK until 2013 at least, but RIM tells us it will be sold in the US, Europe, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean "in the coming months". µ