Research In Motion announced the latest version of its BlackBerry platform, called BlackBerry 7, which was widely reported to be the release previously referred to as BlackBerry 6.1. The platform will be used to power RIM’s new BlackBerry Bold devices, and it is believed that it will not be offered as an upgrade option for owners of existing RIM smartphones. While the company seems to feel that the release is enough of an upgrade to warrant a new number, it is still an evolution of the existing BlackBerry platform used in handsets, and not the anticipated migration to a QNX-based operating system more similar to that used in BlackBerry Tablet. The company has not stated if, or when, a brand-new QNX-based version of the smartphone platform will be made available.

According to reports, BlackBerry 7 does not include Adobe AIR or Android app support, unlike the BlackBerry Tablet OS, meaning that the options are largely different for BlackBerry developers depending which devices they are targeting – unlike in the iOS or Android systems, where there are a number of commonalities between the smartphone and tablet platforms. The intention is to offer an app player for the BlackBerry Tablet OS which will enable BlackBerry smartphone apps to be used on the PlayBook device in the future.

The new version of the BlackBerry OS supports a display feature called Liquid Graphics, which the company said “delivers fast, smooth performance for highly responsive touch-based navigation, web browsing, pictures, video and graphics intensive games.” The improved imaging capabilities will be extended to developers via support for OpenGL 2.0. The BlackBerry Browser has also been enhanced, with Liquid Graphics delivering faster rendering and seamless panning and zooming, and the browser also including a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages. It also includes support for additional HTML5 elements, including HTML5 video.

Other features of the platform include an updated universal search feature, including voice activation, to make it “easier and more convenient” to search for content on a device; and BlackBerry Balance, which separates personal content from corporate content on the same smartphone. It will also be bundled with the full version of Docs To Go, complete with “premium” features enabled. While the new Bold devices include support for NFC technology, RIM has not revealed if developers are currently being offered the APIs necessary to create apps using the contactless communications technology.

New PlayBook apps showcased
RIM also announced several high-profile apps will be available for its BlackBerry Playbook tablet, including a new Facebook app “optimised for the 7-inch high resolution, multi-touch LCD display of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.”  Also available is a Video Chat app, which enables users to  “place and receive video calls between BlackBerry PlayBook tablets over an internet connected Wi-Fi network.”

Tungle bought
RIM also bought Tungle, developer of a calendar sync app which connects to a number of platforms, including Outlook (with or without Exchange), Google Calendar, Apple iCal, Entourage for Mac, Lotus Notes, BlackBerry, Yahoo, Windows Live, Facebook, TripIt and Plancast. It is available for iPhone, BlackBerry “and soon Android” devices.