BlackBerry 6: So 2008, So 2000 and Late

At its Wireless Enterprise Symposium event today, Research in Motion (RIMM) introduced its latest BlackBerry operating system, one it describes as “a big step forward for the platform.” And BlackBerry 6 is certainly that — in the sense that it brings the OS into relative parity with rivals that surpassed it years ago.

“It’s an all-new user experience guided by a few fundamental design principles,” RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis said today. “It had to be easy to use, yet incredibly powerful. It had to be fun and approachable. Anyone that looks at it should say ‘I want a BlackBerry.’”

That’s the hope, anyway.

With multi-touch support, a new Web browser based on the same WebKit core used in the iPhone, social networking integration and a redesigned media player, BlackBerry 6 is a hell of an improvement over its predecessor, which lagged far behind Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone OS, Google’s (GOOG) Android and Palm’s (PALM) WebOS. The video reel below clearly demonstrates that. But as a mobile operating system, it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. (Speaking of things we’ve seen before, isn’t this video a bit reminiscent of Palm’s “Life moves fast. Don’t miss a thing.” promo?) As I said yesterday, BlackBerry 6 is the OS RIM should have rolled out years ago. The fact that the company announced it today and doesn’t plan to release it until Q3 paints RIM as a laggard. As mobile innovators, Apple, Google and Palm have all lapped RIM once already. If RIM can’t raise the stakes any more than it’s done here, they’re almost certain to do it again.