Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) said it plans to start selling its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer in Australia and 15 other new markets in the next 30 days.

RIM claims that the BlackBerry PlayBook is the world's first professional-grade tablet, delivering "industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment."

This ultra-portable tablet measures less than half an inch thick and weighs less than a pound. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display, full Adobe Flash support, HD multimedia, and advanced security features.

RIM began selling the PlayBook in the United States and Canada in April. A version with 16 gigabytes of storage costs $499 in the U.S., a 32-gigabyte model retails for $599 and a version with 64 gigabytes is $699.

In the next 30 days, the BlackBerry PlayBook will be launched in the UK, Netherlands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Australia, Venezuela, Spain, Germany, UAE, Singapore, Mexico, France, Italy, India, Indonesia, Colombia. RIM didn't say what the price will be in the new markets.

BlackBerry PlayBook features include:

* 7-inch 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen

* Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)

* 1GHz dual-core processor

* BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing

* MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback

* Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)

* 1080p HDMI output

* Two 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture - 3 megapixel front-facing and 5 megapixel rear-facing

* 1 GB RAM memory

* 16 GB or 32 GB or 64 GB internal storage

* GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)

* Stereo speakers and stereo microphones

* Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support

Personal-computer makers and smartphone manufacturers are rushing into the tablet market as more consumers as demand for the smaller, touch-screen devices continue to increase.

Apple Inc.'s iPad is the market-leader. Apple has sold 25 million iPads since the device's April 2010 debut, and outselling all the other tablets combined. The iPad2, which was released by Apple in March, features a 9.7-inch touch screen, Apple-A5 dual core processor (2 times faster than iPad's processor), Imagination's SGX543 dual core graphics technology, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of storage, front facing VGA video camera and a 0.7 megapixel still camera at the back, HDMI Support, and an iOS 4.3.3 operating system.

Apple was expected to face more competition this year with the release of RIM's PlayBook, Samsung Electronics Inc.'s Galaxy Tab and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s Xoom, however, these products barely made a dent in the market.

RIM is estimated to have sold 500,000 PlayBooks in the first quarter ended on May 28, way less than the sales of iPad2, but above early sales of the Xoom, according to estimates.

Hewlett Packard, the world's largest PC maker, is releasing July 1 the Wi-Fi version of HP TouchPad tablet will be available next month. The 9.7-inch screen Touchpad includes a 1.3MP front webcam, dual-core 1.2-GHz Snapdragon processor, and weighs 740 grams. The tablet will sell for US$499.99 and US$599.99 at either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage.

7-inch screen

Reviewers have praised PlayBook for its user interface, external design, screen quality. As to performance, the PlayBook has a web browser that supports Adobe Flash and its operating system provides multi-tasking performance (switching to different apps). The compact size (7" x 5"), small enough to fit many coat pockets, is also appealing to people who are on the go. Playbook's office-like apps Word To Go, Slideshow To Go and Sheet To Go are compatible with Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel, respectively. The PlayBook also has advanced security features.

Common complaints include the relatively smaller screen size that would make web browsing difficult, the absence of native email, calendar and contacts apps, and the lack of consumer apps. There is no exchange support in the Playbook for non-BlackBerry smartphone users, who will be forced to rely on webmail.

Like other non-iPad tablets, the biggest hurdle for the PlayBook is the applications. Apple has gained a head-start as more than available 90,000 applications are already optimized for the iPad that can be downloaded from the App Store, in addition to the more than 200,000 iPhone apps that can also work for the Apple tablet. Plus Apple has the iTunes for movies and music. The BlackBerry App World offers "apps for social networking, online shopping, personal productivity, gaming and so much more" for the PlayBook but early reviews for the device complain of the shortage of consumer apps.