RIM Acquires Internet Domain Name Rights to Blackpad.com
Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, acquired the Internet rights to blackpad.com this month, adding to speculation it may be developing a tablet device to rival Apple Inc.’s iPad.
The domain name assigned to RIM was created July 8 and expires Sept. 8, 2011, according to the Whois database of Internet domain names. There was no record of a trademark application for “blackpad” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as of today.
Device makers are racing to develop tablets as Apple benefits from demand for its iPad, which has shown the appeal of a device that bridges smartphones and notebook computers. Hewlett-Packard Co., which bought smartphone maker Palm Inc. this month, applied to the Patent Office on July 9 to register the name Palmpad for computers and computer software. HP said last week it plans to produce a tablet device this year.
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, last month said it sold 3 million iPad tablet computers in 80 days after they debuted in the U.S.
Marisa Conway, a spokeswoman for RIM, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.
To contact the reporter on this story: Hugo Miller in Toronto at hugomiller@bloomberg.net
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