RIM to launch BlackBerry OS 6.0 in Q3

Research In Motion confirmed it will finally unveil its long-awaited BlackBerry OS 6.0 update during the third quarter. Speaking to analysts Monday in conjunction with this year's Wireless Enterprise Symposium event, RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis promised the most significant BlackBerry software overhaul in years--specifics remain scarce, but Lazaridis trumpeted enhancements including an improved WebKit-based browser, a customizable homescreen, a revamped media player and a more intuitive user experience. "We're trying to update the UI and fix the stuff that people wanted us to fix," he said, adding that BlackBerry OS 6.0 will extend to both trackpad and touchscreen devices.

BlackBerry OS 6.0 arrives at a critical juncture in RIM's evolution--although the platform maintains a significant smartphone market share lead in the U.S., developer and consumer interest appears to be waning. A little over a year since BlackBerry App World launched, the storefront features only about 6,000 applications, more than 100,000 apps behind Apple's rival App Store. RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie argued Monday that application quantity is not as important as app quality, and said the firm is working with developers to make it easier to create software tailored to the BlackBerry user segment. (Despite the relatively small BlackBerry App World inventory, RIM director of developer relations Mike Kirkup said Monday that the store is fast approaching 1 million downloads per day.)

However, a recent Crowd Science survey reports that 39 percent of BlackBerry users would prefer an iPhone as their next purchase, and 34 percent said they would favor an Android device. Despite RIM's efforts to position BlackBerry as a mass-market brand as well as an enterprise staple, BlackBerry app usage is higher and more concentrated during workdays than iPhone app usage, according to recent data issued by mobile analytics firm Localytics. BlackBerry app behaviors remain dominated by professional users, Localytics reports--BlackBerry app usage is higher throughout the workday and begins to peak at 7 p.m. EST, two hours earlier than the iPhone. Moreover, there is no significant statistical difference between BlackBerry app usage on weekdays and weekends. By comparison, iPhone owners are most active on the weekends--usage at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays is 40 percent higher than at the same time Monday through Friday.

For more on BlackBerry OS 6.0:
- read this Wall Street Journal article (sub. req.)

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