SAP chief info officer: Apps in works for RIM tablet

Business software maker SAP says it is working to adapt its market-leading enterprise resource management software to Research In Motion's Playbook tablet and that mobile versions of its software will be ready to go by the gadget's launch date of early next year.

That's good for RIM, which is hoping that loyalty on the part of its BlackBerry business customers will carry over to the Playbook. The company wants to avoid obsolescence at the hands of Apple's hugely populariPad tablet, as well as iPad competitors such as Samsung's Galaxy Tab, which runs Google's Android operating system.

Though the Apple device hasn't been touted as a tool for businesses, that's started to change as corporate IT departments have begun embracing the iPad--in part because of its popularity with employees. Last month, AT&T pitched businesses a discounted wireless data plan for the iPad.