Fixed Mobile Convergence

Both Research In Motion, maker of the BlackBerry, and software giant Microsoft (News - Alert) can’t stand by watching Apple’s wild success with the iPad anymore.

In the first 80 days after its release, three million iPads were sold. Apple sold about 3.27 million iPads during the third quarter of 2010, and estimates for the current quarter range from 3.8 million units on the low end to upwards of six million units.

Appolicious reported that RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis recently announced the company's new tablet – the PlayBook.

The tablet will use an OS created by the recently acquired QNX called the BlackBerry (News - Alert) Tablet OS. RIM also touted the PlayBook's ability to handle Flash content via Flash 10.1, as well as Adobe AIR apps.

It will sport a seven-inch, 1024x600, capacitive multi-touch display, a Cortex A9-based, dual-core 1GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM (News - Alert), and a three megapixel front-facing camera along with a five megapixel rear lens and video conferencing.

RIM didn't specify a launch beyond "early 2011," and, there was no mention of a retail price.

Meanwhile, Microsoft plans to hit the market with its own tablet in time for holiday shoppers.

In a related matter, TMCnet reported that Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless and Apple agreed to a partnership that will enable the telecommunication giant to sell iPads in its stores by the end of the month.

Not to be outdone, AT&T also announced it will begin selling iPads in its stores on the same date as Verizon. Before coming to agreements with the two telecom giants, Apple only sold the tablet device through its store and several retail chains, including Best Buy. Wal-Mart and Target (News - Alert) will also begin carrying iPads before the holiday season begins, TMCnet reported.