RIM CEO Confirms, BlackBerry 6.1 Will Be Released As BlackBerry 7 [Call It What You Want, BlackBerry 6.1 Is Such A Big Update That It Has Grown To Be Called BlackBerry 7]

Posted on TFTS by Robert Nelson on Friday, 29. April 2011 under: Mobile/Cell Phones

Coming in a somewhat surprising move, RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsille has stated that BlackBerry 6.1 is going to be released as BlackBerry 7. As if turns out, what was originally expected to be BlackBerry 6.1 had so many new features it deserved a better name.

Or maybe more accurately, it deserved a higher version number. Either way, what it most likely means is that those users who were anxious about getting an update to BlackBerry 6.1 once it was available will be waiting for an update to BlackBerry 7 once available. In other words, nothing seems to have changed for the end user. What they will get (eventually) is an update that comes packed with new features. According to Balsille, who broke the news during the recent investors call;

“we’re now calling BlackBerry 6.1 BlackBerry 7. It’s such a big update from 6.”

And that brings the million dollar question, just what will this big update include. Sadly, Balsille did not go all that far into details as to what the changes and new features will be. Of course, the key here is with timing, which for those not as familiar with the ongoings of RIM — we have BlackBerry World which is set to kick off next week. And on that note, is seems more than likely we will be learning more about what to expect in terms of BlackBerry ~~6.1~~ 7.

Otherwise, we have also heard rumblings in the past few weeks about what we can expect in terms of BlackBerry World and new hardware. Sadly though, the latest rumors are suggesting that the only device to be announced will be the Bold Touch. That aside, the event would also be a good time for RIM to offer up a bit more in terms of the PlayBook tablet and possibly let everyone know when they will get email and calendar without a bridged smartphone.

Source