RIM QNX smartphone leaks

CANADIAN MOBILE PHONE FIRM Research in Motion (RIM) is readying a QNX-based smartphone called the Colt, according to an article at Boy Genius Report (BGR).

The web site has exclusive details about the handset, which could help Blackberry fight back against smartphone challengers Apple and the assortment of firms that offer Android-based devices.

BGR, which has spoken with sources close to the firm, reports that the handset might come with some compromises. The writer said that these would be made in order to fit release schedules, and it is very likely that RIM will seek to get out it fast as currently it is treading water in the smartphone market.

So far the Colt, which is currently only a codename, is expected to have a single core processor, which already makes it sound a bit meh, and it could have support for email using the Blackberry Enterprise Server. For now this should not be considered a given, however, as BGR said Microsoft Activesync could end up being the software of choice here.

RIM is expected to release the Colt early next year. Which to us sounds like it's a while off. µ