Research In Motion (RIM) is recalling 1,000 BlackBerry PlayBook tablets that were shipped with a flawed version of the device’s operating system.
A software bug in the QNX-based tablet rendered the device unable to load software during its initial setup.
RIM said a “majority” of the tablets affected by the recall haven’t reached consumers.
“In the small number of cases where a customer received a PlayBook that is unable to properly load software upon initial set-up, they can contact RIM for assistance,” RIM said in a statement.
The company did not confirm reports from Engadget that the faulty tablets had been shipped to Staples.
The PlayBook tablet was launched as part of RIM’s efforts to revitalize its device portfolio, which has become outdated amid fast-paced competition from handset makers like Samsung, HTC and Apple. RIM decided to use QNX for the PlayBook’s operating system instead of its BlackBerry platform.
The PlayBook launched in April to tepid reviews after its lack of built-in 3G connectivity and limited selection of apps left some users unimpressed despite the tablet’s otherwise solid specifications. RIM has not disclosed how many of the tablets it has sold since the device hit shelves.