RIM to cut prices of PlayBook tablets

Research In Motion are going to cut the prices of their flagging PlayBook tablet. Sales have not been good in 2011 and they hope the price drop will reinvigorate sales. The price for the tablets will drop from February onwards.

In a rather unusual move, all three tablets can be bought now for $299.

The Apple iPad is still dominating this market and manufacturers are finding it hard to get any kind of foothold in the consumer market, causing huge stocks to be held in factories and warehouses. Hewlett Packard axed the price of the TouchPad last year and it sold out in the space of a few days. The RIM price cuts aren't quite as severe as the HP deal, but the price is sure to attract a wider audience who may have found the price in direct comparison with Apple's product.

RIM issued a statement early December 2011 which read “The Company now believes that an increase in promotional activity is required to drive sell-through to end customers.” When Best Buy reduced their prices of the 16GB and 32GB Playbook to $199 and $299 respectively, they sold out quickly. This has attracted the attention of RIM who want to drive more product into the channel.

Kitguru says: With the Playbook software upgrade scheduled for February it might be an ideal time to drop the price.

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