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Russian Government Shuns iPad, Chooses BlackBerry PlayBook

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In a win for Research in Motion, the Russian government is considering the ban on iPad for official use due to security concerns. Instead, Russia is considering adopting either Android tablets or the BlackBerry PlayBook. Another option would see a custom device created by a Russian agency, though it’s unclear whether that tablet would run on a commercial OS or mobile OS, or if it will run a special proprietary operating system.

The PlayBook may be a front-runner right now due to security potential that the tablet offers. In addition to recently winning certification from several U.S.-based agency for security, the lack of native calendar, email, and contact applications on the PlayBook may help RIM make its case for official government use, whether in Russia or in another state or country.

No other tablet on the market has gained FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Additionally, the PlayBook received Best of Show honors at FOSE yesterday for its enterprise security and BlackBerry features, and also Best of FOSE in the Handheld Devices category. FOSE is the largest and most comprehensive government information technology event in the U.S.

Because the PlayBook lacks native PIM applications, the tablet requires the cumbersome use of a BlackBerry smartphone to synchronize information with. The process, known as BlackBerry Bridge, is more complicated than Android and iOS slates that offer native functionality to access emails, lookup contacts, and schedule appointments, but provide security in that if the tablet is lost, the information would instead be retained on a smartphone and also on BlackBerry servers where a remote wipe could be enabled should the phone be lost.

Though Apple’s iPad has been dominating the tablet market since it launched, if the Russian government does select the PlayBook, it may help RIM boast about security versus consumer features found on competing slates. RIM, which has relied on security features and ease of use to market its smartphone, may be able to use the same arguments as it tackles the enterprise tablet space.

Via: Financial Post

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Washington America

    08/01/2011 at 1:23 pm

    First USA govt. certification, now green signal from Russia and also Australia. Playbook is gaining ground slowly but surely. That is a proper way in my opinion instead of calling a big phone a magical post-pc device. 
    Major Japan based organizations are rejecting ipads for their staff use. It is slowly being recognized for what it is a Toy an entertainment device.
    Check this link
    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-26/apple-ipads-shunned-by-japanese-salarymen-hanging-on-to-laptops.html

  2. Anonymous

    08/01/2011 at 2:30 pm

    I just paid $22,87 for an iPad2-64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38,76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $675 which only cost me $62,81 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, GrabPenny.com

  3. marvin

    08/01/2011 at 4:16 pm

     “the tablet requires the cumbersome use of a BlackBerry smartphone to synchronize information with. “…again, another biased reporter or self proclaimed tech guru aka apple fan boy.

    • Washington America

      08/02/2011 at 2:09 am

      This is real victory of playbook over Ipad. If you personally do not like P>B> you can be happy with your I Toy.

      • Romsa9

        08/02/2011 at 11:06 am

        I think marvin is saying the same thing, and I agree. Ipad is a toy. Playbook may not be dumbed down to the maximum like every apple product ever made, and look at what that has caused.. An all around secure tablet as well as fun ( flash supporting) among other perks such as true multitasking etc.. The only thing it hasn’t been is aggressively marketed and desperately pushed into the hands of the people like the apple products have.

  4. 5Media FRT

    08/24/2011 at 7:46 am

    Amongst the breaking news that broke up earlier this week, one emerges: HP has decided to shelve its HP TouchPad production… giving the tablet market a huge set back 
    https://tablettechtoday.com/blogposts/hp-decides-not-to-manufacture-any-more-tablets-shock-for-the-tablet-market.html

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