Research In Motion's 16 GB PlayBook discontinued

A BlackBerry PlayBook. Research In Motion announced its 16 GB version was discontinued.
(Photo courtesy of Research In Motion)

The technology firm Research In Motion has announced it is discontinuing its 16 gigabyte PlayBook model, its least expensive product of the PlayBook line.

A spokesperson for the PlayBook model told the Associated Press that production on the model had been stopped. The report adds that the firm started selling the PlayBook’s at a discount in order to boost interest into the market. The company noted that the 32 gigabyte and 64 gigabyte PlayBook models will continue to be sold. “We continue to remain committed to the tablet space and the 32 GB and 64 GB models of the BlackBerry PlayBook continue to be available from our distributors and retailers around the world,” the company added in a statement according to a report from Reuters.

The Reuters report adds that the PlayBook had been criticized when it was introduced previously due to the lack of features that a basic BlackBerry had, such as e-mail.

However, some have praised the move that Research In Motion has taken in discontinuing the device. “It’s a smart move for RIM to weed the lowest of the low-margin products out of its lineup,” said Carmi Levy, an independent technology analyst speaking to Canada’s Financial Post. “It’s doubtful the company was making much profit on each sale of the 16 GB model anyway, so there’s more to be gained by trimming the lineup a bit.”

However, Levy added that the removal of the entire PlayBook line would put Research In Motion in dangerous territory. “The PlayBook is part of a larger whole, based on a QNX-built operating system that will largely be the basis for the next generation of BlackBerry 10 devices,” Levy said. “Killing the PlayBook now would deal a tremendous blow to RIM’s smartphone aspirations, and we all know the company can’t afford that.”