PlayBook to sync with Office 365

RIM to enable synchronisation with the Microsoft Exchange Server behind Office 365

BlackBerry manufacturer RIM is attempting to entice business users to use its PlayBook tablet by enabling synchronisation with the Microsoft Exchange Server behind the Office 365 cloud solution.

Office 365 is a cloud-based version of the Microsoft Office suite.

RIM announced that a beta version of Sync with Exchange will be launched in late 2011 for the PlayBook. Although no launch date for the Playbook itself has been confirmed.

RIM said that the PlayBook will be ideal for business users, citing features such as BlackBerry Bridge - which offers a secure connection between any BlackBerry smartphone and the PlayBook - and apps in the pipeline from SAP.

However, it will face stiff competition, particularly from market leader Apple, with its recent iPad 2 launch, and tablets running on Google's Android operating system and Windows, which are likely to offer similar functionality.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's Office 365 is expected to be launched in July, according to reports, and will go head-to-head with Google's business collaboration platform, Google Apps.