Release dates leaked for RIM PlayBook and HTC Flyer

UK release dates have reportedly been leaked for RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook tablet as well as HTC’s 7-inch Flyer tablet.

The information, released by mobile operators Three, indicates a May release for the HTC Flyer, while RIM’s PlayBook is pencilled in for a June release.

The leaked slide also describes the PlayBook’s June release as “WiFi only”, which isn’t a huge surprise as rumours have previously suggested that RIM want PlayBook users to pair the tablet with a BlackBerry smartphone for 3G usage.

The two devices have caused rhttp://www.laptopshop.co.uk/news/wp-admin/post-new.phpipples of excitement in the tablet market, and both have been nominated as possible contenders to the Apple iPad’s crown.

While these projected release dates give the Apple device a 1 and 2 month respective headstart on the devices, the buzz around the two tablets will hopefully be sufficient to give them a fighting chance in the market.

A second quarter release date could also give the devices the edge over another of the challengers for the tablet crown – the HP TouchPad.

The TouchPad had been rumoured for a US release in April but this was later knocked back to June, with some sources reporting that HP were going to hold the item until September.

A quote from HP’s CEO, Leo Apotheker seems to confirm that the TouchPad will now be released in June, but this is a US release date only; no information is currently available for a UK release.

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