RIM unveils shiny new BlackBerry 7 OS, only for shiny new BlackBerrys

By Peter Bright

Research In Motion today announced a pair of new smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930, and a new operating system to run on them: BlackBerry 7 OS. The system software was originally intended as an upgrade to BlackBerry 6 OS which shipped in August last year, and was accordingly designated as version 6.1. However, the changes are so extensive that RIM has bumped the version number—and nixed upgrades for existing users of BlackBerry 6 OS devices.

The handsets are well-specified evolutions of the BlackBerry Bold line. The big change is the screen: both devices sport full VGA (640x480) capacitive touchscreens, a significant upgrade over previous devices with their 480x360 or 480x320 screens. They're thinner—at 10.5 mm, the thinnest BlackBerry smartphones ever—faster, with 1.2 GHz Snapdragon processors, and better-connected, boasting HSPA+ support for so-called 4G networks. The 9900 is a straight GSM/HSPA device; the 9930 is a combination CDMA EV-DO Rev. A/HSPA+ handset. The phones also include new sensors, incorporating both Near Field Communications (NFC) support and a compass.

Software-wise, RIM was touting the further improved browser and BlackBerry Balance. BlackBerry 6 OS provided a substantial upgrade to the browser, ditching RIM's old engine and using WebKit instead. Version 7 has faster JavaScript performance and HTML5 support, including support for the HTML5 video tag.

Balance is a feature designed to allow separation of personal data, including Facebook and Twitter, from corporate data. The phones retain the central manageability that has made BlackBerry so popular in corporations, but also allow personal information, games, and applications to be safely installed and used. The system allows for policies such as selective wiping that destroys corporate data but leaves personal data untouched, and data segregation that prevents corporate data from being sent to personal contacts.

The operating system was originally described as an upgrade to BlackBerry 6 OS, and version 7 is still based on that platform rather than the QNX operating system used in the PlayBook tablet. However, the impact of the new capabilities—in particular the higher screen resolutions and new sensors—has put any upgrade plans to rest.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 will be available from summer, with BlackBerry 7 OS preinstalled, but old devices won't be getting an update to version 7: the screen resolution and touch capabilities are too fundamental to allow upgrades for older devices.