The company that gave us the BlackBerry – still the ascendant buzz in accumulated circles – thinks its business barter will accept allowance in their briefcases for at atomic one added device: the PlayBook.

Research in Motion Ltd. showed off the book for the aboriginal time Monday and is set to barrage it aboriginal 2011, with an all-embracing rollout afterwards in the year. With it RIM is action on a smaller, lighter accessory than Apple Inc.’s iPad, which kicked-started the book bazaar aback it launched in April.

The PlayBook will accept a 7-inch screen, authoritative it bisected the admeasurement of the iPad, and counterbalance about to the iPad’s. And clashing the iPad, it will accept two cameras, advanced and back. RIM didn’t say what it would cost, but said it would be in the aforementioned ambit as the iPad, which starts at $499.

The PlayBook will be able to act as a second, beyond awning for a BlackBerry phone, through a defended short-range wireless link. Aback the affiliation is burst – conceivably because the user walks abroad with the buzz – no acute abstracts like aggregation e-mails are larboard on the tablet. Outside of Wi-Fi range, it will be able to aces up cellular account to admission the Web by bond to a BlackBerry.

But the book will additionally assignment as a standalone device. RIM co-Chief Executive Jim Balsillie said its ambition is to present the abounding Web acquaintance of a computer, including the adeptness to affectation Flash, Adobe Systems Inc.’s architecture for video and alternate actual on the Web. That agency the book will be beneath abased on third-party applications or “apps,” .

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has resisted acceptance Flash on any of the company’s adaptable gadgets, arguing thecomputer application has too abounding bugs and sucks too abundant array life.

“Much of the bazaar has been authentic in agreement of how you fit the Web to mobility,”. “What we’re ablution is absolutely the aboriginal adaptable artefact that is advised to accord abounding Web fidelity.”

In part, the PlayBook is a move by RIM to assure its position as the top provider of adaptable accessories for the business set.  had briefings with aggregation arch advice admiral and “this is hands-down, slam-dunk what they’re attractive for.”

Analysts accede that RIM’s abutting accord with its accumulated audience could advice the aggregation authorize a adequate alcove in the book bazaar admitting Apple’s aboriginal lead.

“We do anticipate that RIM has a comedy with action barter because it has accustomed relationships with so abounding businesses, and its technology is so acutely chip with their IT departments,” .

RIM is application a fresh operating system, congenital by QNX Computer application Systems, which it took over beforehand this year, to accouter the ability of the tablet, but Balsillie said it will run absolute apps for BlackBerry phones.

IDC predicts that the accumulated bazaar for book computers will abound as a allocation of all-embracing sales over the abutting few years. The close forecasts that almost 11 percent of all-embracing book shipments, or 6.5 actor units, will be to businesses, government agencies or schools by 2014. That would be up from aloof 2 percent, or 300,000 units, this year. And that amount doesn’t calculation those who shop for book computers on their own and use them for work.

RIM, which is based in which is based in Waterloo, Ontario, doesn’t appetite the PlayBook to be aloof for assignment – the aggregation arrive video bold maker Electronic Arts to advice acquaint the Playbook at an accident in San Francisco on Monday – but it’s bright that its advantages will lie in the assignment arena. Amazon.com Inc. appear it would accomplish its Kindle e-book readingcomputer application accessible for the tablet.

The iPad has prompted a beachcomber of competitors, so RIM won’t be abandoned activity afterwards the book market. Computer maker Dell Inc. came out with its own book computer in August alleged the Streak. Samsung Electronics Co. affairs to barrage the Galaxy Tab abutting ages and has already lined up all four above U.S. carriers to advertise it and accommodate wireless account for it. Cisco Systems Inc. is additionally activity afterwards business barter with a book alleged the Cius aboriginal abutting year.