Research in Motion is planning to release its first QNX-based smartphone in the first quarter of 2012, according to a report.
The company’s Software Verification team is said to be well into the testing process of the device, code-named BlackBerry Colt, Boy Genius Report wrote.
The QNX-based devices are expected to potentially improve the well-being of a company that has been struggling to effectively compete in the smartphone market.
RIM recently announced plans to gear up for the biggest product launch in its history with the introduction of five handsets based on the BlackBerry 7 Operating System.
But in a research note Thursday, Jeffries & Co. equity analyst Peter Misek predicted the handset shipments will be lower than expected in RIM’s November quarter.
“We continue to believe the story hinges on QNX …," wrote the analyst, who also forecast that QNX handsets will arrive later next year versus guidance of early 2012.
