RIM has released a video preview of the company’s forth coming BlackBerry 6 OS. The preview showcases a touch based interface, new social features likely powered by technology RIM acquired from Viigo and, of course, a new WebKit based browser. The video, and more information, is after the jump.
Here’s some of what’s new in BlackBerry 6:
- A social network aggregator that’s shown to work with Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger. It’s unclear if it will support other services. Integrating services such as Yammer and StatusNet would be useful for the enterprise. This is probably based on Viigo, which RIM acquired in March. Viigo, a real-time information aggregator, added support for Facebook last year.
- An RSS reader, probably also based on Viigo.
- A new home screen design, and what appears to be a native “Today” theme.
- The much anticipated new WebKit-based browser, which will add, among other things, tabbed browsing. We looked at what may be in store for the browser here/
- Universal search.
- Context-sensitive pop-up menus.
RIM released a previous video of the new OS in April.
RIM has long dominated the enterprise smart phone market, but the iPhone and Android are challenging RIM’s position. Software such as Sybase‘s Afaria help bring other platforms up to BlackBerry’s level enterprise readyness, so it’s exciting to see that RIM isn’t resting on its laurels anymore. However, this round of improvements only helps bring RIM in line with other smart phones for web and social media experience – it doesn’t look like it’s going to break any new ground. And it does nothing to improve the condition of the rather spare BlackBerry app store.
RIM also announced today that it’s making its enterprise-level BlackBerry security features available to consumers and small business users.
