BlackBerry PlayBook email client coming "very, very soon" says CEO Jim Balsillie

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jim-playbook.jpgThe BlackBerry PlayBook has finally launched in the States, to a mostly lukewarm reception. While the hardware is widely praised by the likes of Engadget, the software side of things has been a bit of a let down.

The most notable ommission of all came via the lack of a native email client, with BlackBerry’s otherwise-class-leading mail only accessible through a convulted process which has the user tether their BlackBerry smartphones with the device.

Looking to corner the consumer market as quickly as it can, as well as those already invested in the BlackBerry brand, CEO Jim Balsillie assured consumers that a software update to include the mail functionality was on the way very soon.

“We’ll have an over the air email client to announce very, very soon,” said the visibily uncomfortable RIM CEO in a video interview. Looks like hasn’t taken those lacklustre reviews very well.

“We have BlackBerry World — our user conference — in a couple weeks. Stay tuned for all capabilities we have coming out on this stuff.”

Balsillie also took the opportunity to plug the forthcoming 3G-enabled model, which he expects to hit stores by the summer. Whether or not the PlayBook has the legs to take on Apple’s iPad 2 remains to be seen.

Via: Bloomberg

Gerald Lynch
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