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Nearly 1 of 5 BlackBerry users on BlackBerry 6, but, over 30% still pre BlackBerry OS 5

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Research in Motion has released OS breakdown information for BlackBerry users downloading applications from BlackBerry App World, and, nearly a year after the release of BlackBerry 6, almost 1 in 5 BlackBerry users, 18% to be exact, are using the latest and greatest RIM has to offer.  The data also shows that 32% of BlackBerry users are still pre-BlackBerry OS 5.  Usually when we think of mobile OS fragmentation, Android is the platform that jumps to mind, but, things are just as bad for the BlackBerry OS, and, they are soon going to get worse….

Uptake of BlackBerry 6 has jumped 8% in the three months since we last talked about it, but, 82% of BlackBerry users on an operating system at least one version back.  This will jump to two versions back as soon as RIM releases BlackBerry 7, expected to ship sometime in the next 2 to 3 months.  The real problem for RIM is that everyone who cares knows that RIM intends to replace BlackBerry 7 with QNX in ‘early 2012’.

If it took a year for RIM to get 18% adoption on BlackBerry 6, does it really make sense for developers to focus development efforts on BlackBerry 7 when they know that QNX is coming, and, coming hard?

 

 

RIM Now Offereing Beta Builds Of BlackBerry 6 In BlackBerry Beta Zone

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Research in Motion has announced via BlackBerry Beta Zone that they will now offer consumers from the US, Canada and the UK the ability to download beta version of BlackBerry 6 for select devices and carriers…

Beginning early this year, we will be providing consumers from the US, Canada and the UK using particular wireless networks the opportunity to participate in beta programs dedicated to BlackBerry 6.0 Device Software.

We are excited to open our doors to you for beta testing the latest BlackBerry Device Software and we look forward to your continued involvement in our programs as BlackBerry Beta Zone grows.

To prepare for these upcoming programs, we ask that you please take the following actions to ensure your eligibility*:

In your BlackBerry Beta Zone profile, please update the following information:

  1. In the “Contact” tab, update to the current BlackBerry smartphone model and PIN you are using, as well as your Country
  2. In the “BlackBerry Smartphone” tab, ensure you have provided the most up-to-date carrier information

These programs will have limited capacity for participants and registration will end once the spots have been filled.

Your feedback has been instrumental in helping us to improve the site and our programs. We encourage you to continue voicing your opinions and sharing your ideas with us.

Best Regards,
The BlackBerry Beta Zone Team

Currently U.S. T-Mobile subscribers with the BlackBerry Bold 9700, Curve 3G 9300, or the Bold 9780 can download beta versions of BlackBerry 6.  There are, however, a limited number of spots in the beta program, so, you need to act fast if you want to get in.

[Source]

Official: OS 5.0.0.1000 For The BlackBerry Curve 8530 Now Available

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Canadian carriers Bell and Virgin Mobile have officially released BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.100o for the BlackBerry Curve 8530.   If you don’t have a device from Bell or Virgin Mobile, but, still want to install 5.0.0.1000, make sure you delete the vendor.xml file out of the installation directory on your PC before installing to your device.

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RIM VP Confirms That BlackBerry PlayBook OS Will Eventually Replace BlackBerry OS

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According to IntoMobile, a Research in Motion VP, over a breakfast event this morning at DEVCON 2010, confirmed that the QNX operating system that runs on the the BlackBerry PlayBook will eventually replace BlackBerry OS running on BlackBerry smartphones.  We pondered last week if BlackBerry 6 was actually the next-gen BlackBerry OS or a stop-gap until the real next deal comes out.  The time scale on such a move however is probably not as near term as we would like as BlackBerry 7 would probably be the BlackBerry OS stepping stone into the QNX based BlackBerry OS.

[Via IntoMobile]

My Initial Thoughts Of BlackBerry 6 Running On The Bold 9650

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Robb put me on the spot a bit yesterday about downloading and installing the leaked BlackBerry 6 for the  BlackBerry Bold 9650.  He knows that I have slowed down my adoption of leaked OS versions because they all seem that same after a while, but, BlackBerry 6 is a new OS, so, I decided to give it a go.  I wouldn’t call this an exhaustive review, but, more or less my initial thoughts…

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5 More Reasons Why RIM Should Build A Device That Runs Android

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A couple of years ago I wrote a fairly popular post titled  “5 Reasons That RIM Should Make A BlackBerry That Runs Android“.  Today, I feel even more strongly about this so I am doing a follow up with 5 More Reasons RIM Should Build a Device That Runs Android. I’ve changed gears just a bit and am making the distinction between BlackBerry and device in this update, but, at the end of the day, RIM is a company that makes most of its revenue by selling hardware and they need to get on board when it comes to Android regardless of if they call such a device a BlackBerry or something else…

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Only 20% Of BlackBerry Users Run OS 5

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Al Sacco from CIO.com posted an interesting pie chart displaying the distribution of BlackBerry Operating Systems in use and, not all that surprisingly, only 20% of current BlackBerry users run OS 5, the latest BlackBerry OS, on their device.  What is kind of surprising, however,  is that RIM still allows the carriers to exercise ultimate control as to if and when BlackBerry OS updates will be released on carrier branded BlackBerry devices.

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Official OS 5.0.0.607 For Verizon BlackBerry Storm2

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BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.607  for the Verizon BlackBerry Storm2 has been officially released.  Some Storm2 users have reported that the update has been pushed OTA to their devices. (Note:  Wireless update works only with officially released BlackBerry OS versions)

You can also download OS 5.0.0.607 from the Verizon BlackBerry Updates page for use with BlackBerry Desktop Manager.