Here's what was expected
BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion
(RIM) is holding a special event in New
York on Wednesday where the company
will introduce a new operating system
called BlackBerry 10. It is also expected
to launch at least two handsets based on
the new platform, codenamed BlackBerry
Z10 and BlackBerry X10.
RIM burst on the scene with the
BlackBerry in 2003. That was long before
the iPhone and other competing
technologies emerged to steal control of
the market from RIM with their more
consumer-friendly smartphones.
The company boomed as the maker of
"crackberries," a nickname stemming
from the addiction the phones
engendered in users.
But now, unless the Blackberry 10 is a hit,
RIM faces becoming a footnote in an
increasingly competitive market led by
Apple and rivals who use Google's
Android operating system.
"The importance of this launch cannot be
overstated," said Ramon Llamas, an
analyst at the research firm IDC. "There's
going to be a lot of work that needs to be
done to earn back respect."
RIM touts the system as a big change in
smartphone technology.
"This is an entirely new operating
system," said company spokesman Nick
Manning. "We think it's the first entirely
new mobile operating system in about
five years."
RIM says the system will break new
ground by allowing customers to flip
between applications seamlessly and
without first passing through a home
page, to boost efficiency and multitasking.
Another key asset of BlackBerry 10 is
what RIM dubbed the "BlackBerry
balance," a system that allows users to
separate professional communications
and applications from music, photographs
and other personal items.
Such an option means that if a user
changes job, his or her former company
can disable the device's corporate side
without affecting personal data.
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