Upcoming BlackBerry Colt QNX-based Smartphone

RIM has unveiled the BlackBerry Colt, which is known as the company's first QNX-based smartphone. Powered by a single core processor, the handset has a similar form factor to the BlackBerry Bold. Unfortunately, there is no further info about this handset. The company is currently aiming to release the BlackBerry Colt sometime in the first quarter of 2012. Stay tuned for more updates. [BGR]
source: TechFresh

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BlackBerry Colt to be RIM's first QNX smartphone?

It was back in September 2010 that we've heard for the first time about RIM's plans to replace BlackBerry OS with QNX – its new platform that can be currently checked out on the PlayBook tablet. However, we've yet to see any QNX-based smartphone – even the latest Torch handsets still run BlackBerry OS.

So, when will RIM start to launch QNX smartphones? Well, it looks like it will happen in the first quarter of 2012. According to BGR, the first QNX smartphone is codenamed BlackBerry Colt. Reportedly, the Colt is in testing, and it features a single-core processor (which will certainly not make it a high-end device next year when it launches).

Another rumor has it that the Colt will not feature BlackBerry Enterprise Server integration, because RIM won't finish rewriting its BES code for QNX. The handset will have support for Microsoft ActiveSync “out of the box”, though.

(RIM's QNX as seen on the BlackBerry Playbook tablet)
source: Unwired View

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BlackBerry's first QNX phone will come as early as Q1 2012

BlackBerry is currently testing out its first phone, running on the QNX platform - dubbed the BlackBerry Colt. BlackBerry's first QNX handheld will, however, most probably arrive in Q1 2012.

BlackBerry has lost a lot of ground to iOS and Android smartphones and many are hoping that QNX is just the platform to bring the Canadian manufacturer back to its former glory. 2012 isn't all that far away but the competition is set to become even more fierce until Q1 of 2012.

BlackBerry's new OS 7-running devices are still hot out of the oven, but QNX is already stirring great expectations.

There isn't much information about the Colt but BGR claim to have a valuable source with insider information on the mysterious device. So far we know that the Colt prototype in testing has a single-core processor and that it runs on the QNX platform - so far a BlackBerry Playbook-exclusive OS. Still, BlackBerry have hinted at dual-core QNX devices to come. It's also possible that BlackBerry will have to make some compromises in order to launch the device on time.

The Playbook launched without email support as BlackBerry had to rewrite its entire BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) code for it to support the QNX platform and it seems that now RIM is working on a new BES, specifically made for QNX. The first QNX-powered smartphone will probably launch without support for the current BES versions. The phone should, however, support Microsoft's ActiveSync out of the box - so Microsoft Exchange email will be possible.

BGR reports that the Software Verification team of RIM is hard at testing the BlackBerry Colt and the release date for the device will heavily depend on how this testing goes.
source: GSM Arena

READ MORE - BlackBerry's first QNX phone will come as early as Q1 2012