Research In Motion's BlackBerry 6 OS, set for release this summer, boasts a revised interface and new features like multi-touch support, “kinetic scrolling”, a new home screen, and social media feeds, but it is still playing catch-up to the iPhone.

For example, features like Universal Search look like the Spotlight search in the iOS platform, and the enhanced media interface is reminiscent of Apple's Cover Flow feature. You can see the BlackBerry 6 OS demonstrated in a newly released video here.

Notifications are on the top of the screen, as with the Android OS, resulting in similar functionality for emails, SMS, and social network feeds and updates. This allows for significant social network and communications filtering. For example, with a tap and hold on the contact button a menu will show up with bunch of options like call, text message, etc.

However, when talking of the BlackBerry 6 OS, we are still in the “what’s to come” phase. As it stands RIM is trying to reassure investors that the new browser and OS will prove popular with both consumers and enteprise customers. RIM's stock has fallen 18 percent in 2010.

Specific highlights of the BlackBerry 6 OS are:

Universal search. BlackBerry 6 OS provides system-wide search results as the user types, much like the iOS 4's Spotlight search.

Enhanced media playback. As with iTunes’ Coverflow, album art is front and centre on a carrousel. From there the user can flick through albums, navigate through the tracks, shuffle and repeat.

Social Feeds. All social activity is displayed in one place, allowing for quick tapping between texts, tweets and Facebook messages.

RSS Feeds. A swipe allows the user to jump from social networking to RSS feeds.

Fluid interface. Tiles float over the top of each other to make efficient use of the screen space. The operating system never shows more information than is needed.

Messenger. Blackberry's free messaging service has been redesigned with the option to attach an image, video or audio selection to a message.

Simultaneous postings. It is now possible to post to Messenger, Facebook and Twitter accounts all at once.

A better browser. Web pages are displayed in full, with “pinch” and “zoom” functionality to magnify small text. Open tabs are displayed as thumbnails and maximised to full screen when tapped on.