The 4G LTE iteration of the BlackBerry PlayBook is rumored to launch on July 31st and it looks like PlayBook OS 2.1 may launch alongside it.
Our friends at CrackBerry have posted a list of changes the new OS brings with it (shown above), many of which were not included in the beta build plus. In addition, some features will be exclusive to the 4G LTE version of the tablet. Some of the highlighted features include:
- Software updates are no longer mandatory during setup. The customer can choose the best time to update for them.
- Setting Up WiFi connection is no longer mandatory at setup
- Software updates can be done over a cellular network (4G models only)
- Portrait Mode can now be used with the Email, Calendar, and Contacts App
- Greater flexibility and control over which folders are wirelessly synced when using Active Sync
- Full access to IMAP Email folders
- The BlackBerry PlayBook now gives you the ability to conduct a video chat over 4G Cellular Networks (Some Carrier Restrictions May Apply)
- Print To Go – Now you can send content to your BlackBerry PlayBook even if it’s not connected to the same WiFi network.
- Android Apps will now run in individual windows rather than being lumped into one Android Player Window.
- Apps which require access to the camera are now supported
- In-App Payments can now be submitted. Buying that next power-up in your game is easier than ever!
- Video Store is now available in Canada. Thousands of movies and TV shows, new & old, available on demand to rent or buy New releases available same day as DVD
- Text Messaging is now supported with BlackBerry Bridge. When Bridged you can read, send and receive text messages on your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.
- When Bridged, and connected to WiFi, the BlackBerry PlayBook automatically sends and receives data over the WiFi network to decrease cellular data usage, and increase performance.
It is very likely that most of these features will hit the new BlackBerry 10 OS when it launches next year. BBM support doesn’t appear to be present in version 2.1, but that will definitely be in BB10, considering it is one of the BlackBerry platform’s defining features.