Verizon has been getting their staff ready for BlackBerry 6 starting with an internal launch event two weeks ago, and is in the midst of testing device software that has been leaked for some time. One user who was running such a leaked OS (6.0.0.280) on the 9650 received a notification to update their e-mail setup app, which is at least a sign that Verizon is still working on a public rollout, though no release dates have been announced.

OS 6 slaps a fresh coat of paint on the usually-dry BlackBerry experience. A new user interface that involves combing through categories of icons with swipes, and generally smooth transitions all over make BlackBerry 6 a tad more enjoyable to use, but the inclusion of a WebKit browser and universal search provides some functional upgrades too. Our walkthrough of the new features can be found here.

The Curve 3G and Bold 9650 are the only phones on Verizon which are queued for an update, but elsewhere the Bold 9700 and Pearl 9100 will get 6.0. RIM has felt comfortable enough with the OS to show it off publicly, so it all hinges on carrier testing at this point. I doubt Verizon would let testing drag on past the new year, especially if they launch any OS 6-capable devices before then, but you never know…