At the same time, it has sold enough inexpensive low-end phones to edge out Nokia Corp. as the world's largest maker of phones.

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The end result for Edge is a third-generation Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GeForce graphics and more memory than any other tablet currently on the market.

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Companies that specialize in the low-end have an edge on RIM too, writes Gillis, because they have leaner operations, realizing that they need a specific cost structure to flourish.

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