For those interested in the BlackBerry maker’s entrance into the tablet space and the potential challenge it could pose to Apple’s iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Mobility Insider claims to have pricing details on the upcoming PlayBook.

Positioned by RIM as a business focused product, the 7-inch PlayBook will run a bespoke Tablet OS, based on the company’s recently acquired QNX software.

$399 entry price

And when it launches in early 2011, the enterprise friendly tablet will reportedly hit the market aggressively, with the 8, 16, and 32GB models pegged at $399, $499, and $599 respectively.

By way of comparison, the entry level iPad – 16GB wi-fi only flavour – retails for $499, rising to $829 for the unsubsidised 64GB 3G + wi-fi version.

As anticipated, none of the PlayBook models will arrive with WWAN connectivity, meaning that unless you already own a BlackBerry handset for tethering purposes, PlayBook owners will be restricted to wi-fi and mobile hotspots.

PlayBook 2 in 2012?

According to Mobility Insider’s source, RIM did hint at a WWAN-enabled follow-up to the PlayBook, scheduled for release in 2012.

In the meantime, RIM is already attracting notable interest for PlayBook v1 from the professional sector it’s unashamedly courting, with Reuters reporting last week on large corporations’ preliminary plans for the device.

[source: Mobility Insider]