As the release date for the new Blackberry 10 smartphones - the X10 and Z10 - fast approaches, enterprise interest is already strong, RIM announced Wednesday.
BlackBerry was always an enterprise phone. If early interest is any indication of what's to come, it looks like the new BlackBerry 10 handsets may be well on their way to reclaiming much of the company's former success.
RIM's Senior Enterprise Accounts Director, Bryan Lee, told Reuters that the company is currently overwhelmed with enterprise consumers registering for its BlackBerry 10 Ready Program, with more than 1,600 customers in North America already signing up for the service. The program helps with the transition to BlackBerry 10 and Enterprise Server 10.
According to Lee, more than 130 major government agencies and corporations are currently testing the Enterprise Server 10 service. The implications here are obvious: at least some of these organizations will likely be outfitting their thousands of employees with the latest BlackBerry 10 handsets.
In less promising BlackBerry 10 news, the new X10 model, featuring the traditional QWERTY keyboard, may arrive with some funky screen issues, as the apps in RIM's store won't be optimized for its display, according to TechRadar.
Financial Post reported Victoria Berry from RIM has said the company won't release the SDK for its QWERTY handsets until after the Jan. 30 launch date. This means developers can't adapt their apps for the X10's smaller display ahead of the device's release, and that the handsets will hit the market without properly coded native apps.
While RIM has still yet to confirm an official release date for the X10 and Z10, an image has surfaced online suggesting a Feb. 28 release for the new smartphones, according to Digital Trends. A screenshot from Best Buy Canada's stock control system shows a BlackBerry 10 device listed with a release date of Feb. 28 and shows a retail price of $799. Although, which model the report is referring to is unclear. If accurate, the pricing would be $50 less than an unlocked 64GB Apple iPhone 5, and at least $250 more than the average cost for a 16GB Samsung Galaxy S3.
BlackBerry 10 phones are reportedly already receiving stellar reviews ahead of their official release.
"Research in Motion has won key government security certification for its BlackBerry 10 operating system months ahead of its launch, allowing the smartphone to be used in secure government workplaces," reported Zack Whittaker of CNET.
When the BlackBerry 10 is eventually released on Jan. 30 the phone will reportedly be available in two models, the X10 and Z10, according to BGR.
While the Z10 opts for an all-touch-screen design, the X10 model employs more traditional design using the old school QWERTY style keyboard. The phone will reportedly be available in both black and white, and rumors indicate the phone will feature a 4.2-inch screen with 1280x768 resolution.
"In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience - the BlackBerry Flow - that is unlike any smartphone on the market today," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of RIM.
Rather not wait until Jan. 30 to get your hands on RIM's new smartphone? You can pre-order the BlackBerry 10 now from Canadian carrier, Rogers.