RIM to brand QNX-based OS as "BlackBerry X" at DevCon?

Last year RIM introduced the BlackBerry PlayBook running a new QNX-based operating system that's has been exclusive to the slate ever since. Not long after the PlayBook's debut, though, RIM said that QNX would soon be making its way to BlackBerry smartphones as well. The question is, what might the Waterloo firm name this new tablet/phone OS? It could stick with QNX, but that's not exactly the most recognizable brand for folks that aren't phone nerds like you and I. BBQNX? That's a little better, but it's a tad long. BBQ? Closer, but now I'm just hungry. BBX? That's it! At least it is according to the folks at CrackBerry, who have heard from several sources that RIM intends to brand its QNX-powered OS meant for phones and tablets as BlackBerry X or BBX (as in "BB EX," not "BB Ten"). The new branding will reportedly be unveiled at BlackBerry DevCon later this month.

It makes sense for RIM to give its QNX OS for both smartphones and tablets a new name, just like it would give a major revision of the BlackBerry OS a new version number. Combining BlackBerry and QNX to from BBX works well not only because it's a kind of fresh start for RIM's OS naming scheme — much like the OS itself is expected to be for smartphones — but also because it should be an easy name for consumers to remember. Plus, you know, it's a combination of "BlackBerry" and "QNX," just like the actual OS. Now we just have to see how the OS itself is shaping up. RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis has said that we will get a peek at QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphones at BlackBerry Devcon, which kicks off on October 18th, so it doesn't look like we'll have long to wait. What do you think of the name BBX? Do you dig it or is there another name you think would roll of the tongue even better?

Via CrackBerry