PlayBook QNX OS Will Eventually Replace BlackBerry OS

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Yesterday, RIM introduced their PlayBook tablet, to much positive response from the tech blog community. Rather than shoehorning the BlackBerry OS onto a touch-screen interface like they did with the Storm series, it’s running an all new PlayBook QNX operating system. If you were wondering if that new OS will never make it to the RIM smartphones – a RIM vice president said that it will eventually replace good old BlackBerry OS.

This story comes from IntoMobile, as allegedly a RIM vice president was talking at a breakfast event at the BlackBerry Developer Conference. He let slip that eventually, the new ONX OS will replace BlackBerry OS on the phone. But, it won’t be a sudden and drastic transition. The veep said that it’ll be slow, major transition, and that BlackBerry OS 7 will likely be a bridge between the two OS’s.

Compare this strategy to Microsoft’s plans for Windows Phone 7, where they have apparently and abruptly discontinued development and support for Windows Mobile 6. The casualty of this was the Microsoft Kin project. With Windows Phone 7 not being ready, the Kin team went with a modified version of Windows CE, and that could of had some effect on the demise of Microsoft Kin.

Regardless, QNX OS has got some great features, and it’s probably wise of RIM to plan for the new operating system to eventually replace their old BlackBerry OS. It’s a great developer platform, it’s got Flash, 3D rendering, the whole nine yards. It reminds me a lot of webOS, which may be a compliment or insult for the QNX OS, depending on your opinion of webOS.

(Image Credit: IntoMobile)