Ahead of the rumoured 21 February launch of RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook OS version 2.0 update, some long awaited positive statistics have surfaced from Canada suggesting price cuts for its ailing 7-inch tablet may be going some way to rectify poor sales.

Market share for the PlayBook has risen from an initial 5 percent to 15 percent in Canada since Q3 2011, according to a study by Solutions Research Group.

This rise was at the cost of Apple's market share which lowered to 68 percent from 86 percent.

Hot cakes

While the iPad still dominates, the growth of PlayBook can't be ignored.

The device was initially available for $500, but now shifts for around $300, while some models competing on Kindle Fire territory at $200.

RIM will hope sales continue, as it looks to move a surplus inventory that cost it $485 million in 2011.

It'll also hope that the upcoming update, along with new content from game developers such as Rovio and PopCap, will entice even more developers onto the PlayBook.

RIM recently extended the timescale for its Android developer gathering program which will gift free devices to newcomers until 2 March and has already attracted 6,600 new studios to the platform.

[source: The Globe and Mail]