Could Canadian mobile manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry device, be feeling a little bitter about Apple entering the business-oriented market that RIM caters to? According to SellMyMobile, since its launch, the iPhone 4 has become more popular with the business sector as well as the general retail industry.

During the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco, RIM Co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie criticised the applications that Apple manufactured for its devices, hinting that users "don't need an app for the Web," The Telegraph reported yesterday.

Image: Daily Laptops

"We believe that you can bring the mobile to the web," Balsillie said, PCR reported. "You don't need to go through some kind of software development kit. That's the core part of our message. You can use your existing development environment."

He explained that browsing alone was the most efficient way of obtaining information on mobile platforms. According to the Telegraph, Balsillie (below) revealed that the upcoming PlayBook tablet his firm launched would have a browsing speed that exceeded Apple's iPad by three or four times.

Image via Dal News

"There's still a role for apps, but can you use your existing content? Can you use your existing web assets? Do you need a set of proprietary tools to bring existing assets on to a device, or can you use known tools that you use for creating websites?" he added, The Telegraph informed.

The PlayBook was developed to support Adobe Flash. RIM might be hoping that the device would have the same surfing capabilities as a desktop computer and that the prevalence of apps would drop, Wireless Ground wrote.

BlackBerry's App World has about 10,000 apps, compared to Apple's 300,000. Wireless Ground added that what Balsillie was implying was that apps weren't dead. Rather, that apps that provide complex website elements to tablets and smartphones shouldn't have such a sizeable presence in the future because manufacturers should focus on developing devices that are as powerful as traditional computers.

The PlayBook appeals to the business community largely because of its security components, such as e-mail encryption, Bloomberg suggested. Other features that are of interest include the twin cameras that permit videoconferencing and a 7-inch touchscreen (smaller than the iPad's 9.7 inch one). Bloomberg mentioned that the PlayBook costs less than US$500, whereas the iPad starts at $499.