Confusion over RIM PlayBook as 4G model announced for summer

RIM has announced a new model of its forthcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet that will ship in the US, but has yet to confirm whether this will be the much anticipated first outing for the device.

RIM and US carrier Sprint unveiled plans at CES for a new BlackBerry PlayBook model with so-called 4G network capability, expected to be available in the summer.

This model, the BlackBerry 4G PlayBook, is the first confirmed carrier deal for RIM's tablet device.

At the time of writing, the company had yet to respond to requests for clarification on whether this 4G model will ship before the original PlayBook announced in September, which was slated to be available in the US "early in 2011", with an international rollout set for the second quarter onwards.

The new model is the first PlayBook to feature wide area network capability, via Sprint's WiMax-based mobile infrastructure.

Sprint refers to this as a 4G network despite WiMax's failing to meet the ITU definition for a 4G mobile communication technology. Other PlayBook models will primarily use Wi-Fi for connectivity.

RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook has garnered interest from enterprise buyers, as the tablet can pair up with BlackBerry smartphones to provide big-screen access to corporate email via the firm's BlackBerry Enterprise Server system, as well as running applications developed specifically for the device.

However, if the newly announced model is the first PlayBook to ship, it represents a dangerous delay for RIM in the tablet market, as other vendors are already fighting for market share against the current leader, Apple's iPad.

Many new tablet devices have already been announced at CES 2011.