BlackPad to be powered by QNX operating system

QNX Software will provide the advanced and powerful operating system that will be installed on RIM’s future tablet, the BlackPad. The new tablet will be roughly the same size as Apple’s iPad and is expected to hit the stores in November.

QNX Software is used on a variety of platforms: it powers BMW’s audio systems and it stands at the base of a navigation system developed for the Crusher, the autonomous military vehicle at the Carnegie Mellon University, it is used by General Electric, by Cisco or by Caterpillar.

The BlackPad is expected to be more of a corporate tablet, as most of the currently available devices – including Apple’s famous iPad – are concentrating on entertainment – RIM’s BlackBerry is most popular among corporate users, while home users prefer a much more consumer-oriented device.

There is not much information available about Research in Motion’s own tablet computer. The BlackPad will be suitable for corporate use, concentrating especially on e-mail – it will be closely integrated with the BlackBerry’s e-mail system.

The device will use WiFi for connecting to the internet, but no other means of direct connections are said to be included in it – when no WiFi will be available, the users will have to use a third party internet connection device, such as a mobile phone to which the tablet can connect via BlueTooth.

When launched, the BlackPad will not be forced to compete only with the iPad – companies like HP, Samsung or Motorola plan to launch their own tablets (probably based on the Intel Atom platform with Windows or Android OS on them) roughly in the same period.