RIM confirms PlayBook design for BBX-powered smartphones

RIM has confirmed that its upcoming fleet of BBX-powered smartphones will resemble the company’s PlayBook tablet device and feature 1024x600 pixel 16:9 aspect ratio displays.

Speaking to PCMag, RIM VP of developer relations and ecosystem development, Alec Saunders said, '‘Look, if you build [an app] for the PlayBook, then it will run on BBX. We have maintained aspect ratios, BBX also has the ability to upload multiple dimension graphics,’ meaning the device’s will have the same display standards as the PlayBook.

Saunders was also quick to dispel rumours suggesting that the first BBX-powered BlackBerry handsets would ship without BES support, claiming that the BBX-powered handsets will include support for native email and BES integration.

‘RIM announced BBX last month, reports Slash Gear, ‘building on QNX on the PlayBook and set to be the company’s single OS across phones, tablets and embedded devices. BBX will support 2D and 3D gaming, Android apps and feature a new Cascades UI Framework.’

The first BBX-powered handset, which is expected to be a 4-inch device, currently codenamed ‘the Colt’, is expected to land in late Q1 or early Q2 of 2012.

RIM hasn’t confirmed any release dates as yet for its BBX platform but seeing as Saunders claims that the devices will ship with BES integration and QNX 2.0 attributes, it only makes sense that they’d follow an update to the PlayBook’s current operating system, which is expected to land in February 2012.

Could BBX save RIM from oblivion? Only time will tell. But we’re very excited about the potential implications of a unified BBX platform.