The latest stable BlackBerry OS is the BlackBerry OS 6.0. Many BlackBerry devices are upgradable to run BlackBerry OS 6.0 such as BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300, Pearl 3G, Bold 9650, Bold 9700 and more.
Initially BlackBerry OS 6.1 would be the successor of OS 6.0 but today (May 2, 2011) at BlackBerry World Event, RIM renamed OS 6.1 as BlackBerry 7 OS.
What is BlackBerry 7 OS?
According to the Official BlackBerry Blog, the BlackBerry 7 OS is a performance driven platform designed to deliver a faster and easier communication, multimedia and productivity experience for BlackBerry smartphone users including an improved web browsing and universal search capabilities (now with voice-enabled search!).
The following is a quick list of some new functionality of BlackBerry 7 OS:
- Liquid Graphics – The BlackBerry 7 OS delivers fast, fluid performance when browsing, accessing pictures or video, or running graphics intensive games.
- NFC – Built-in support for Near Field Communications (NFC), an exciting new technology that is designed to provide a secure exchange of information between NFC-enabled devices over a very short distance. Watch our interview with Andrew Bocking, VP Handheld Software Product Management, to learn more about BlackBerry and Near Field Communications.
- Augmented Reality – The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to take advantage of BlackBerry 7 OS support for augmented reality applications.
- HD Video – The BlackBerry 7 OS supports up to 720p HD video recording.
Which devices will run BlackBerry 7 OS?
According to Engadget, RIM has just note that there will be ‘no legacy support’ with BlackBerry 7 meaning that older devices, even those running version OS 6 will not be getting any official updates to the latest stuff. So which devices will run BlackBerry 7 OS? Not older/existing devices but the new/upcoming ones.
Yes. RIM just introduced the upcoming new devices, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones which are expected to be available around the world beginning this summer. Those two devices will run OS 7 by default and you will be able to experience the functionality of BlackBerry 7 OS.
It will not complete if the introduction without a video. Watch out the video below see how BlackBerry 7 OS looks like!