Below $500 - BlackBerry to sell tablet, VS Apple iPad

The BlackBerry PlayBook will sell for under $500, according to RIM exec Jim Balsillie, which would put the forthcoming PlayBook in direct competition with the Apple iPad.

The price announcement sent RIM stock up 5.68 per cent on the TSX to close at $58.61 and 7.53 per cent up on Wall Street to close at $59.14.

Of course the PlayBook will not just be facing off against Samsung and Apple, but several other mobile manufacturers will be launching tablets with similar specs over the next 12 months, including Motorola and Acer.