Is a Playbook Tablet a Useful Addition for Business Use?
When one of the main brands that compete with Blackberry came out with a portable tablet, Research in Motion began creating their version of the portable tablet called the Blackberry Playbook. Introduced in early 2011, the company is trying to prove how the Playbook tablet is a useful addition for businesses. While the main competitor, iPad, came out first, it doesn't compare to the speed and multitasking abilities of the Playbook.
Having a Playbook is very similar to having a portable personal computer. The sleek and lightweight design makes the Playbook easier to carry and tote around than a laptop. This makes the Playbook great for business professionals who need to travel frequently as it's easier to carry the tablet onto a plane, through a crowded airport, or anywhere else you may need to go. The Playbook boasts a 7-inch touch screen, Wi-Fi features, a 5 mega pixels camera for video and 3 mega pixels for photos, and a 10 hour battery life.
The Playbook Connects to the Blackberry Phone
For any business that already uses a Blackberry device to communicate amongst employees and administrators, the Playbook will automatically connect to any Blackberry device and the Blackberry Enterprise Server. This means that employees can connect their Blackberries to the Playbook and immediately have access to documents, emails, and contacts that are stored on their Blackberry. Some businesses, such as hotels and hospitality businesses can benefit from purchasing a few Playbooks to loan out to guests. This allows business travelers to use the loaned Playbooks to explore the Internet, view documents, and even attach their own Blackberries to view their information on the Playbook.
Research in Motion has taken the same security measures with its tablet as it does with its smart phones. All of the data is encrypted and there is even a tethering feature that connects the tablet to the phone when used with a Bluetooth device. What this means is that any information is only stored on the phone and not on the tablet. This is an added security measure for businesses who use both devices. Some may see the need for two devices as a disadvantage, but many companies already use regular Blackberries to conduct business.
How Businesses Can Use It
Businesses that rely heavily on personal sales can use the tablet to showcase their products to clients. For example, if an interior design firm has a client who wants to see different time period pieces, the designer can use their playbook to immediately show the client different pieces. If the business has created its own app, the designer may even be able to take a quick picture of the room and show how it would look decorated in that style by connecting the Blackberry phone to the tablet. Businesses can start seeing direct results from different uses of the Playbook.
The biggest advantage of the Playbook comes to those businesses that already utilize a Blackberry device. If a business doesn't currently use any Blackberry device, the tablet operates with its basic features. But for businesses that want to increase their efficiency, using both devices can impact sales and work presentations.