Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile to carry BlackBerry 10 devices
updated 05:23 am EST, Thu January 10, 2013
RIM boosted by support from major US carriers
RIM has received a boost with the major carriers including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile all confirming that they will be offering BlackBerry 10-powered devices on launch, reports Reuters. Executives from each of the wireless powerhouses were hopeful, and also indicated continued business interest in RIM’s devices for enterprise deployment. If RIM is to enjoy a second coming, after rapidly falling to the wayside following the rise of the iPhone and Android devices, carrier support will play a critical role if it is to have a future.
RIM’s CMO Frank Boulben separately told Fierce Wireless that following the introduction of the first two BlackBerry devices on January 30, it has plans to release a total of six handsets running its next-gen OS over the course of 2013. The plan is to target each tier of the smartphone market, at the high, middle and low end. Along with the announcements by US carriers at CES, Boulben also said that 150 carriers were testing its new handsets around the globe.
The first two RIM handsets to be formally introduced at the end of this month will be the previously leaked L-series that sports a competitive 768x1280 display with native support for 720p high-definition. The second includes a smaller touchscreen with a resolution of 720-x720 along with the traditional RIM physical keyboard. It is said to be carrying the X10 label and include substantial social networking integration.
