Must Read: Sorry, but bringing back the Start menu won't help Windows 8

Topic: Security

RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

Summary: RIM's next-gen BlackBerry smartphone will be powered by the same QNX OS as its PlayBook tablet, but may only have a single-core CPU and lack BES support out-of-box.

Gloria Sin

By Gloria Sin for The ToyBox |

Boy Genius Report is reporting that Research In Motion is working on a full-touchscreen smartphone that runs QNX, the same OS as its PlayBook tablet. The worst part isn't that the QNX-powered phone won't be ready until the first quarter of 2012, but that RIM doesn't seem like it has learned from the mistakes from the PlayBook.

Let's start with something positive. RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis acknowledged back in June that the BlackBerry OS needs to be upgraded to "a higher performance platform" in order to remain competitive in the smartphone "features and performance arms race," according to Between the Lines' Larry Dignan. That is why RIM is transitioning its phones to the QNX platform: it offers full Flash and HTML 5 for a smooth multimedia experience, multitasking capabilities and an intuitive touch interface. According to BGR's anonymous source at RIM, the QNX-powered phone codenamed BlackBerry 'Colt' is already undergoing internal testing so at least we know it is coming down the pipe.

That said, the tipster has revealed that the Colt is only a single-core phone at the moment, after Lazaridis said in June that upcoming phones will have an upgraded processor along with a more powerful OS. With more and more multi-core phones debuting between now and 2012, the hardware in this QNX-powered Colt is already behind its Android and iOS competitors -- and it hasn't even launched yet. Hopefully the single-core CPU in the test version of the Colt is not reflective of the final product specs.

Beyond just adapting the QNX platform to a smaller device, BGR is told that RIM's first QNX smartphone will "launch without support for current BlackBerry Enterprise Server versions," which means users will have to access their Microsoft Exchange emails via ActiveSync out-of-box, at least until the BES for QNX is ready. Is RIM going for a PlayBook redux?

RIM certainly has its work cut out to make its launch schedule for the Colt in the first quarter in 2012. No wonder Jefferies analyst Peter Misek is pessimistic about RIM’s upcoming quarter and predicts the Colt won't actually launch until second half of 2012. But for the sake of BB users, I hope RIM takes its time to fine-tune the Colt so its shortcomings don't end up overshadowing an otherwise good product like they did with the PlayBook.

[Source: Between the Lines, BGR, TechCrunch via WashingtonPost]

Related:

Topics: Security, Hardware, Mobile OS, Mobility, BlackBerry

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

14 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    Jesus. FAIL.

    You're going to ship your new flagship without support for your enterprise messaging flagship?

    RIM is dead.
    samalie
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

      @samalie you and the author react to early... that seems to be the case these days... only time will tell.
      pedalshoe
      Reply Vote

      • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

        @pedalshoe I think its a pretty legitimate concern. I hope RIM gets its act together. I'd hate to see my precious disappear
        awkward hug
        Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    By the time RIM ships these "superphones", the iPad 3 & iPhone 6 with iOS 6 will be out & NO one will care about RIM's ancient BB's.
    SBMobile
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

      @SBMobile There isn't a mobile OS out there that is as fast as QNX and I think Blackberry has a good thing here if they can get it integrated quickly.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

      • And that has been the classic mistake

        @Peter Perry People think specs alone will beat an Apple product. People think a larger list of features will do the trick. People think if they can make their gadget cheaper certainly that will do the trick. What if they make their product look sexier? Now we have in you're words a faster OS? Yeah that's the ticket:). Not the individual pieces it's the whole gadget from nuts and bolts, specs, features, looks, price, ecosystem, apps, and yes the OS.

        Pagan jim
        James Quinn
        Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    QNX is the future of Mobile Platform, way better than IOS and Anderiod.
    powerphrase@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

      @powerphrase@... holding breath
      computerchipt
      Reply Vote

    • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

      @powerphrase@... It is the fastest I've yet seen with only Win Phone 7 being even remotely close to it for speed but the current WP 7 doesn't Multitask yet.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    Who needs a dual core processor for angry birds? They are just phones. The BB haters are going to gripe about it anyway. Typical online journalist ready to continue with the "shoot RIM down" critique. None of you know about QNX performance or even if it needs a dual core processor, but the complainers sure run out to complain.
    Leroy Farted
    Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    BES is the only thing this company has going for it right now and they plan to clip it in their upcoming release? WTF is wrong with these people??

    It's a good thing Balsillie didn't end up getting an NHL team, judging by the decisions they make at RIM, he'd probably try and stack the team with NBA players.
    Scratchi
    Reply Vote

  • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

    I hope Google buys them and then overlays the Android GUI on QNX, that system would have tons of patents to protect it and it would kick every other systems butt out there!
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • Does Google have like 80 billion in the bank?

      @Peter Perry Just saying that ship has so yet to sail and who knows who will end up with the IP if it does?

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply Vote

      • RE: RIM brings QNX OS to BlackBerry 'Colt' phone

        @James Quinn
        Rim has a winner here but not an iphone killer, iphones will kill themselves rim just has to do a good job at building good phones that work well and do what they promise.
        it is a mistake to compare b.b. and apple. iphones are all hype very little reality. with the economy tanking and credit becoming difficult everyday consumers will want more commonsense products not shiny or sexy toys.
        augustus_rome
        Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close