Mystery BlackBerry 10 device hits FCC
updated 01:05 pm EST, Mon December 31, 2012
RFH121LW shows up with no pics or specs
As the date for RIM's BlackBerry 10 unveiling approaches, yet another device that will run the forthcoming OS has shown up at the FCC for approval. This newest device, bearing the model number RFH121LW, appeared at the regulatory body with little in the way of information on its specs or connectivity. Despite the lack of details, the secrecy in the filing could point to the device being an as-yet-unrevealed third handset to accompany the touchscreen L-Series and QWERTY-enabled N-Series phones RIM is expected to reveal in late January.
The FCC filing reveals very little with regard to the device's capabilities; only its Near Field Communications feature is listed in the document. NFC is thought to be one of the major features RIM will be relying on to differentiate its flagship devices from other competitors, even though most of its competitors, aside from the iPhone 5, have NFC capabilities. RIM is said to have put work into developing an NFC infrastructure that will allow BlackBerry devices to be used in ways that exceed the capabilities of other devices.
As to the device's identity, it is possible that it is the BlackBerry Aristo, details of which leaked earlier this year only for it to disappear from the news thereafter. Leaked specs on the Aristo indicate that it is something of a "superphone," with high-end specs meant to take on even the most powerful of competitors.
The Aristo reportedly would have a 4.65-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720. It is said to have an On-Cell Touch Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OCTA AMOLED) screen with technology developed by Samsung. The On-Cell touch technology would allow the Aristo to be the thinnest BlackBerry device yet. Inside, it will reportedly have a Qualcomm APQ8064 Krait quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal memory, expandable by microSD card. It would also feature NFC capability, as well as Bluetooth 4.0.
If the device listed in the FCC documents is the Aristo -- or if the Aristo exists -- it is likely to be unveiled when RIM shows off its newest mobile operating system, BlackBerry OS 10. That unveiling will happen at a series of simultaneous events around the world on January 30.
