Pictures of first BBX smartphone leaked

Pictures and specifications of what people believe will be the first BlackBerry device based on Research In Motion’s (RIM) forthcoming BBX operating system (OS) have appeared on the net via technology blog The Verge.

Pictures and specifications of what people believe will be the first BlackBerry device based on Research In Motion's (RIM) forthcoming BBX operating system (OS) have appeared on the net via technology blog The Verge.

The design of the touchscreen device -- which has been dubbed the BlackBerry London -- is a far cry from RIM's iconic (and flailing) BlackBerry candybar handsets. However, the BlackBerry London draws aesthetic inspiration from the clean lines and metallic detail seen on RIM's Porsche Design P9981 handset which was introduced in October.

The London is 'thinner than the iPhone 4,' writes The Verge and 'allegedly is equipped with a TI OMAP dual-core CPU clocked to 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of onboard storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a 2-megapixel front-facing shooter.'

Technology blog BGR backs up the claims and reveals that the device 'should in fact launch as the company's first BBX-based smartphone.'

According to the two blogs, the launch date is still a long way off; the BlackBerry London may not be available until the third quarter of 2012.

ZDNet editor in chief Larry Dignan comments on Twitter that, 'RIM's rebound always seems just a few quarters away.' With Mobile World Congress (MWC) coming up in February 2012 and a slew of powerful new smartphones on the horizon RIM will have to act fast to stay competitive.

HTC will reportedly unveil 'the most the most powerful smartphone the world has ever seen' during MWC. The Android smartphone will be shipped with a Nvidia quad-core processor and will feature a cutting-edge 4.7' display.