Being called the BlackBerry 6 the updated Operating System was announced at RIM’s WES conference this week and penciled in for a launch in the next calendar quarter meaning we could expect to see it as early as July. RIM’s co-CEO Mike Lazaridis verified how the brand new Operating system is going to be compatible with both touch screen and non-touchscreen devices all of which will provide deep integration with the new WebKit internet browser.

In terms of backwards match ups, that’s the place where things got intriguing. Lazaridis stated that the business would do its best to backdate BlackBerry 6 so that it works with the current crop of BlackBerry mobile phones. That BlackBerry are attempting signifies that it isn’t a sure thing which indicates BlackBerry may have several new handsets tucked up their sleeve to debut the new OS when it launches later this year.

CrackBerry has a number of pictures the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 up close, showing off that new posh black finish, one of which we have featured below. We’re told it’s rocking 3G this time, so it’s looking increasingly hopeful that RIM is now abandoning 2G across its whole line.

The Allerta inPluse use  Bluetooth technology, to connect to BlackBerry devices and displays SMS, email, and call notifications. It can display full messages right on its 1.3-inch OLED display and features vibrating notifications for incoming calls. Calendar alerts also appear on the wrist device. It even automatically sets the time using data from the BlackBerry phone to which its connected.

The Allerta inPluse features a rechargeable 150mAh lithium-ion battery that will last for 4 days, based upon getting 20-30 updates per day. It will support all BlackBerry devices with BlackBerry OS v4.3 and higher. It’s coming in at around £90 ($149) when launched in the US in February. No UK release date has been given but we’d expect it will show up in the UK at some point in the future, especially if it’s a success in the US.

BlackBerry also picked up the best mobile phone application aqard with the Facebook For BlackBerry app. Full list of What Mobile Award Winners

In the busy Christmas Gift period, customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the new Blackberry Storm2 first through Vodafone. The BlackBerry Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5 evolves the BlackBerry touch-screen platform with hundreds of hardware and software enhancements. The Blackberry Storm2 is available to pre-order from Vodafone with delivery from the 26th of October.

Key New Feaures Of The Storm2

New SurePress Technology

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone introduces a new SurePress technology. This is based on an electronic system that provides the user with tactile feedback when the touch-screen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the display practically effortless. Typing on the smartphone’s virtual keyboards is easier, more comfortable and more accurate. The new SurePress technology also allows the user to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may still be touching or resting on another letter, enabling faster typing and multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt -key combinations.

Blackberry Storm2 Hardware Features

• Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate
• Large (3.25”), dazzling, high resolution 360 x 480 display at 184 ppi
• Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically effortless
• Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) networks
• 3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording
• 256 MB of Flash memory
• 2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when available
• Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the user is on the phone
• Media player for videos, pictures and music, plus BlackBerry Desktop Manager for both PCs and Macs, and BlackBerry Media Sync for easily syncing iTunes and Windows Media Player music with the smartphone
• Vodafone’s music client pre-installed, giving access to an extensive catalogue of artists
• A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls
• Bluetooth (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals
• Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
• Access to the BlackBerry App World, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social networking, news, weather, productivity and more. Applications developed for the original BlackBerry Storm are fully compatible with the BlackBerry Storm2
• BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry Enterprise Server support
• Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time

BlackBerry OS 5 On The Storm2

• More responsive experience and includes usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons and more use of animation
• Typing accuracy and selection have been significantly refined
• BlackBerry Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets
• Customers running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5 will gain the ability to:

- Set follow-up Flags on the handset like they can in Microsoft Office Outlook.

- Manage Microsoft Exchange email folders (Add, Rename, Move, Delete) on the handset

- Access remote files shares (Windows Shares); Save, View, Edit, and Email documents from remote file shares

- Forward appointments and view calendar attachments on the handset

- Benefit from wireless sync improvements for Contacts, including sync for multiple contact folders, personal Distribution Lists and contacts in Public/Shared folders