91ÖÆƬ³§

(3-Jun-11) With its new PlayBook, Waterloo, Ont.-based 91ÖÆƬ³§ In Motion Ltd. seeks a stake in the exploding tablet market. It faces an uphill battle, though, particularly against the Apple iPad, which is already in its second generation and owns a massive chunk of the tablet market. But BlackBerry’s popularity in business may incline business types to ignore its competitors and look closely at the PlayBook.

Here are five reasons why a business might consider the PlayBook. And two reasons it might avoid the gadget.

Security: For businesses, security is the key reason to consider the PlayBook instead of the iPad. While Apple is mainly a consumer brand, RIM is business-oriented, and the company has an enviable reputation for secure communications. Features built into BlackBerry devices allow IT administrators to control how the gadgets are used and even to wipe data remotely from lost or stolen ones, says Alec Taylor, vice-president of software, services and enterprise marketing at RIM. The PlayBook provides similar capabilities.

Michael Battista, research analyst at 91ÖÆƬ³§ in London, Ont., says the perception that RIM is miles ahead of Apple on security might be exaggerated. Apple has increasingly addressed the issue, he says.