More Hints at Pending BlackBerry OS 6 Release on Verizon Wireless
Well the update guide has been leaked at least...
Verizon Wireless still has not released an update to BlackBerry OS 6—though Sprint has on its identical BlackBerry models—but it looks like Skype has not gotten the memo. Skype, the popular VoIP service, has released a version of its app for Verizon’s BlackBerry models that run BB OS 6. It looks like Skype expected Verizon to already have updated the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and Curve 3G 9330 to OS 6. You know, like the rest of us expected.
With much smaller Sprint already dishing out the BB OS 6 goodness on its own branded versions of the Bold 9650 and Curve 9330, Verizon’s lack of an update is almost embarrassing. Since there are no smart phones running BB OS 6 on Verizon’s network yet, it’s not like Verizon is trying to push its customers into buying new models instead of updating their old ones to the new operating system. Does Verizon really not think it’s worth the time or effort to get the update out in a timely manner?
Besides the pretty big hint from Skype that BB OS 6 should be released by Verizon any day now (I feel like I have been saying this for months now), some materials from Verizon have leaked online showing the update process and announcing the arrival of RIM’s new OS. Now for the actual update to follow…Can you hear us Verizon? We want the new operating system and the greatly improved Webkit browser inside.
It is unconscionable that a carrier as large as Verizon Wireless—the largest in the United States—has made its customers wait this long for a simple, free operating system update. The hardware inside the Bold 9650 is virtually identical to the hardware inside the Torch 9800 that released on AT&T months and months ago. The same processor and same memory/storage are inside of both. This isn’t rocket science. Hackers have been playing around with the new operating system for quite a while now and even your little CDMA cousin Sprint with its identical models has started rolling out its own update over the air.
Maybe the question we should all be asking is why. Why is Verizon taking so long to do something it could have months ago if it really tried? The only answers that I can come up with are a) Verizon doesn’t care about the BlackBerry anymore or b) Verizon doesn’t care about the BlackBerry anymore and wants its customers to switch to an Android OS powered smartphone out of sheer frustration. Neither bodes well for BlackBerry fans or RIM.
QNX operating system, where art thou?
Let me know what you think about Verizon’s foot dragging in the comments below.
Tags: update, BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330, skype, Blackberry OS 6, Blackberry Bold 9650
Verizon should be stepping its game up with launching the new OS. Sprint customers receiving the newest update before Verizon customers? LAMEEEE!
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I have been eligible for an upgrade since November of 2010. Since all this new hype of new blackberrys, I decided to wait. It is now towards the end of January and I still have no new blackberry. I want to just get a damn blackberry, BUT the second I go and use my upgrade… “Introducing the new blackberry”. So, now I am very frustrated and just want Verizon to just OFFICIALLY release the OS. I don’t understand. We’re asking for a new blackberry, we’re simply asking for the new OS. I don’t believe that is too difficult.
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Anonymous Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@, I believe that the blackberry is soon going to be left behind by all the new android phones. Soon everyone will want either a iPhone or an android phone and blackberry phones will seem like stone age technology.
I have Bold 9650 and i am continuing to regret not getting an android phone.
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Verizon is a joke. I am sick of the foot dragging. Verizon doesn’t care because they are too big.
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Oh, and forget about getting Skype to work with a Verizon BB 9650 running a leaked version of OS 6. Follow the Verizon and Skype instructions all you want about clearing cache, robooting, etc., but it will still not load.
What is with these two companies????
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DarylS is right! It refers to Version 6.0.0.317. Given that 6.0.0.333 is already out there in a leaked version, it has to make you wonder.
The Blog is exactly on point. They are either profoundly dumb or totally unmotivated to keep people in their BB’s, or BB 9650 and hoping that we will lose patience, fold and by a Verizon Android. Well guess what, there’s also fresh fruit! Apple anyone?
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I hate to break it to you but the “webkit browser” is no more than a couple of buzz-words. I’ve been running os6 on my 9650 for months now and I can confidently say that if you don’t like your bb browser now, the update will do nothing to change that.
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I agree, Butoptions A and B are part of option 1 (there is only one option with Verizon), that is summed up not by their careful methodology to protect their network and their customers, but by their communication method, “Assyness”. This is because when large communication companies do not communicate with their customers they are asses.
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By the way….. the Sprint version works very smoothly and I have not found any app that doesn’t work on it. viigo still doesn’t align the type to fit the window which was a problem I reported to RIM with the older leak already.
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I downloaded and installed the Sprint release on my Verizon Bold and it works fine. Already had an earlier leaked release and I got the Sprint release because if you read the inside of that booklet that everyone is showing that Verizon is supposedly pushing to its stores, Verizon’s release is older than the leaked version I already had. Check that out someone … please?
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