Consumers who purchased Research In Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook can look forward to finally receiving the 2.0 upgrade as early as next week.

Various highly accurate sources have added to the information leak, the first showing an approximate release date of 21 February 2012.

The next source noted that the US electronics retailer, Best Buy, had a circular that confirmed the BlackBerry 2 OS upgrade was in February. This source also noted that the latest version of the desktop software required to properly sync your BlackBerry device has been available since the 14th. Users must pick up the version 7 of the software to meet compatibility standards for the BlackBerry OS 2.0 update that is scheduled as early as next week.

As yet, no response has been noted from Research In Motion regarding confirmation of the release rumours, but based on information released in January’s Consumer Electronics Show, several missing elements on PlayBook will be included in the OS 7.0 software. Those soon-included elements and features include contacts, email and calendars.

Not only will PlayBook OS 2.0 allow generous social network integration but the ability to run Android apps on the BlackBerry device as well. Whether this portends a curtailment to the solicitation and development of unique-to-BlackBerry app, we have no idea, but we hope not. The tailored apps bring a needed depth and facilitation to BlackBerry phones and other mobile devices.

One new element the OS 2 will provide is very exciting, and that is the remote control ability: BlackBerry phone users will be able to control the PlayBook from their mobile phones – a smart move for smartphones from Research in Motion. Whilst RIM isn’t the first to think of this remote control concept, it adds quite a bit of the convenience and

“cool tech gadget”

…appeal, and if marketers can catch the attention of gadget geeks, they all but have an e-bag full of sales.