Research in Motion said it has recalled an estimated 1,000 PlayBook tablets, indicating a small number had reached customers who were unable to properly load software at setup.
One report had it that the group of faulty PlayBooks had been shipped to Staples Inc., but that report could not be confirmed. RIM’s recall statement appeared in several published reports but RIM could not be reached for further details.
RIM said most of the problem devices were still in warehouses or stores and hadn’t reached customers. RIM said it will replace the affected devices and told customers who had received one to contact RIM for assistance.
The 7-in. PlayBook has not been perceived as a device that would outsell the iPad or iPad 2 tablets, but is expected to draw greater interest from corporate IT and business users of BlackBerry smartphones.
Still, the PlayBook got lukewarm reviews when introduced April 19, partly because it doesn’t have natively installed email, requiring users to rely on Web email or a Bluetooth tether to a BlackBerry smartphone already connected to corporate email through the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. RIM was also generally criticized for taking so long to launch the tablet, first unveiling it last fall.
Late last month, RIM warned its first quarter results would be lower than expected and said smartphone launches would be later than expected. Its stock has dropped in recent weeks. First quarter results are due out June 16.