RIM to cut prices on BlackBerry PlayBooks

After a disastrous first few months, Research in Motion's tablet Playbook will get a discount.

(Credit: RIM)

RIM Co-Chief Executive Mike Lazaridis said the company will launch several programs to encourage the sale of the guidelines, including incentive programs for businesses, as well as rebates and agreements for transactions for existing BlackBerry customers. Lazaridis did not specify how many companies will offer discounts.

RIM is seeking to stimulate demand for the tablet after the start is very weak. The company reported shipping only 200,000 PlayBooks fiscal second quarter, less than half of the 490,000 tablets that analysts expected. That alone is a weak number.

RIM also will unveil the company guidelines 2.0 software developers at a conference in October, which includes the original e-mail, calendar and contacts - striking features are lost during the launch - as well as players Android app and a video store with 10,000 videos. The software will be available to customers shortly after the conference.

While some of the tablets was lucky, Playbook seems to have done particularly badly.

Lazaridis acknowledged that guidelines were "far below where we want to be," but remained optimistic. He said software upgrades and incentive programs should encourage sales in the third quarter. He said the company will work with retailers to get rid of their inventory.