BlackBerry Playbook will launch with 13 million song catalog from 7digital

By Adam Rosenberg March 9, 2011

Research In Motion will soon be entering the tablet computer fray with the release of its BlackBerry PlayBook. The 7-incher packs in a powerful Cortex-A9 dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, along with an assortment of features that keeps it competitive with other currently available tablets.

RIM is supposed to be launching the PlayBook soon, and today brings the news that it will come packing a music store powered by 7digital. The new partnership was announced in a press release, which states that PlayBook users will have access to 7digital Music Store’s 13 million song catalog, with the prices matching what you’d pay on 7digital.com. The usual set of search and preview features will be available to PlayBook users along with the digital music store’s recommendations system. The service’s front-end app will come pre-loaded on all PlayBooks.

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The news shouldn’t come as a big surprise to longtime BlackBerry users, as 7digital offerings have been available on the mobile devices for some time now. The big appeal of this particular digital delivery service over others is its DRM-free music catalog. Unlike iTunes or Zune Marketplace content, 7digital MP3s are easily transferred between different devices. With a song selection that spans the EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner catalogs, users should have no problem finding the music they’re looking for.

The press release also notes that RIM will be showing off its BlackBerry PlayBook with 7digital’s music store at South By Southwest in Austin, Tex. when it kicks off later this week.

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