Biz Brief: RIM to Test Tablet PC and New BlackBerry

Research in Motion (RIMM) has been losing smartphone market share to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and Google's (GOOG) Android-based handsets, if most data on the industry is accurate. One tell-tale sign is that RIM's share price has fallen by over 20% in the last year, while Apple's is up over 80%.

The Wall Street Journalreports that RIM is testing a tablet PC and new BlackBerry in the hopes of staying competitive with its rivals. The new BlackBerry has touch-screen features similar to the current version of the iPhone, and a slide-out keyboard. "RIM is also experimenting with a tablet device to serve as a larger-screen companion to its BlackBerry phone," according to the Journal. The company declined to comment on the story.

RIM may have an uphill battle. A poll released last month by Changewave showed that 77% of those who bought an iPhone in the past six months where "very satisfied" with their handsets. Only 46% of Blackberry owners made the same claim.