The Blackberry Colt could launch this year according to the latest online gossip. The information comes from a Dutch website and originates from telecom experts.

The Colt is also thought to be the first smartphone to run on the QNX operating system. The QNX platform features technology which eclipses that of Blackberry OS 7 and brings better power efficiency, stability and improved multi-media features.

QNX has been gaining praise because of its similarity to the hugely popular Palm webOS operating system. It also marks a change of strategy for Blackberry because compared to its previous operating systems it's aimed more at multi-media features.

Very little is known about the Blackberry Colt other than it will have a 4.3 inch touch-screen and will be powered by the same 1.2 Ghz processor feature in the Bold 9900.

Blackberry have come into some difficulties of late with their US market share tumbling and many experts have been speculating that they may be taken-over. We'll have to wait and see whether QNX and the Colt can help the company recover.

Once we hear more about the Blackberry Colt you'll be the first to know.

Source