∞ Sprint says no to the PlayBook

Written by

Greg Bensinger at WSJ.com:

The decision means the device hasn’t yet found any support from the three largest U.S. wireless carriers, which includes AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Without their backing, RIM will have to bear the burden of sales and marketing support for the device, as well as application development.

In contrast, Apple’s market-dominating iPad is advertised and supported by both AT&T and Verizon Wireless, and the tablet is displayed prominently in stores.

And that’s what happens when you rush a product to market without the features that people want. Nobody will touch it.


  • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

    “But… but… tethering… business… Blackberry users…. “

  • Anonymous

    “DOA!” I thought it had that amazing “flash” player I’ve been hearing such great things about?! lol 

  • http://twitter.com/JackRAiNz Ron Jack Rainz

    Those 2 clown-shoe co-ceo’s need to be canned and quick.
    Im not a RIM fan, but one cannot deny this company’s contributions in the mobile market. Moreover, RIM employes hard working, smart and talented individuals – and no, Im not talking about their management. It is those hard working, smart and talented individual who’s jobs will be on the line because of piss poor management. Lazaridis and Balsille have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they  absolutely lack the slightest idea regarding how to innovate, excel or even compete in the smartphone/tablet market. The proof to that last statement can be summed up in one word: Playbook.

    • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

      No argument there.

  • STL

    It was DOA and now it’s about to be buried.

  • Anonymous

    Bit crafty this article.  Sprint are talking about the WiMax version specifically, not the PlayBook line as a whole.

    Not suggesting that the PlayBook is in fact a worthy device and doing well (it’s neither), but this is a little misleading… and given how badly the PlayBook is doing, it’s not like the Loop needs to resort to misleading headlines.

    • Anonymous

      Misleading? Well, duoh! That just means you admit to being LEAD! Who needs to be lead? Not I!

      • Anonymous

        I don’t disagree – I enjoy this site’s rhetoric, and find the editorial stance both entertaining, as well as informative. I’ve never doubted Jim’s intent ;^)

        My only ‘issue’ was with the headline… Sprint haven’t said no to *the* PlayBook, just a particular version of it.

        Won’t make much difference of course. The entire line up is still a dead duck…

  • Rainskipper

    This is like the fat girl turning down the nerd for a date.  You don’t know who to feel sorry for.

    • Gustav

      I know who to feel sorry for. Anyone who thinks being a fat girl or nerd is something to feel sorry for.

      • Fastgeometry

        Oh, you shamed him good. NOT!

        • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

          Nice to see some kiddies from Cult of Mac finding a home here.

  • Jth9234

    Who in their right mind would pay for something you could do for free? The Playbook has the Bridge app for Blackberries, data sharing is free. Only someone who didn’t know that would pay for a data plan every month that is completely unnecessary and foolish…

    • Anonymous

      Maybe you should pitch that to the London rioters, they would be the only ones who give a shit!

      • Jth9234

        Well enjoy paying extra for your 3G tablets then with monthly fees or extra bills for tethering or WiFi hotspots.

        Playbook and BB, data sharing that only charges you once. Am I the only one that sees that as a great benefit?

        • Player_16

          Yes you are -on this site. At lease iPads can send/receive emails without being tethered to a phone. You’re also one of the few that enjoys your Playbook of which you commented and defended on this Mac site many times before. And the way it’s sounding, you can only get a Playbook via mail-order only. A dream product soon to only be touched, handled and ordered in a shop.

          That’s not good publicity.

          • Jth9234

            Ignorance must be bliss. Playbooks can easily send/receive emails while in WiFi, much like other WiFi only tablets. But when out of WiFi, they can be Bridged to Blackberries for the best emailing of any tablet I have seen.

            Keep regurgitating the ignorance of “no native email” reviews that defy logic.

            As for mail order only, I dunno its still in stores and also signing more government contracts than the iPad. Not that matters, its just a better tablet, IMHO. I have data everywhere with no tricks and no extra monthly charges, pretty sweet…

  • Player_16

    Yeah, I’m ignorant to the PB but I would be tied to a phone (BB). I’m not a beta tester so whose fault’s that? They’re spending squillions on this thing trying to keep it going with very little marketing while the bad press flows. RIM isn’t pimping this product. Don’t plan on getting one, so why should I run around regurgitating the latest unsteady info from various sites knowing their reputation’s crap while at the same time RIM is/were making repairs-on-the-fly to a product that’s short on promises, long on delivery all the while you come talking about my ‘blissful ignorance’ on a Mac site pumping it up. 

    Sure, I’ll pay $20 a month for 3G coverage, so what? My phone company warns me when I’m nearing my limit. I can call and buy another $10 block. Not tied on a data plan. When I’m in a wifi area, it switches-on-the-fly; in-and-out -if I’m registered with them. If I’m not allowed on that network, 3G. It’s not welded to my hip.

  • Jth9234

    This site is Apple-centric and focuses on Apple products like they can never do any wrong, but there is good tech info here too.

    But I have to drop some knowledge on people that never tried a Playbook and know nothing about it other than what a tech critic wrote about it in April after trying it for 2 minutes…