At the event, it will also demonstrate an updated version of software for the PlayBook. The executives acknowledged that sales of the PlayBook have been well below what they'd like. RIM has previously discussed adding new features and capabilities, but today the company said it plans to roll them all together into one large new release.

That release will include native applications for email, calendar and contacts--omissions that many people criticized in the initial release of the PlayBook. Users will be able to use the clients to view corporate email delivered from a BlackBerry Enterprise Server as well as other email services, Lazaridis said. RIM had previously said that native email would come in late summer.

The release will also include the promised software that will let users run Android applications on the tablet. RIM first announced it would offer such a player in March and has said it would become available in late summer.

Users will also get new consumer applications, including a video store that will include 10,000 movies. Since the PlayBook comes with HD video output ports, users will be able to view the movies from their tablets on their TVs.

RIM hopes that the software updates, combined with new programs it plans to launch in hopes of driving sell-through in both enterprise and consumer channels, will spur sales of the PlayBook into the coming months.