Concerns over the popularity of the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone can finally be put to rest. An unnamed retailer has ordered 1 million units of the Z10 from BlackBerry just days before the phone officially hits the U.S. market on three different carriers.
"BlackBerry, formerly known as Research in Motion, did not disclose who placed the order. The company did say, however, that it came from an established partner and that shipments would begin immediately," the Los Angeles Times writes.
AT&T customers can get their hands on the phone on Mar. 22, while Verizon customers will have to wait until the 28th. The Z10 is currently available to T-Mobile business customers, but the general public will need to wait until the 28th as well.
Sprint initially said it wouldn't offer the Z10, opting instead to wait for the QWERTY keyboard-enabled BlackBerry Q10 due out in the next few months, but recent rumors say Sprint will release an updated "version 2" of the Z10 later this year.
Previously, investors had been concerned that the Z10 wasn't selling well in initial markets, despite word that several retailers in Canada and the U.K. had sold out of stock. Analysts slashed sales predictions.
BlackBerry has thus far declined to release sales figures, though its fourth quarter earnings report is due out on Mar. 28, just as the Z10 drops on two major carriers. The latest announcement proves the Z10 still has cachet and consumer appeal.
The BlackBerry Z10 features a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 plus processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 4.2-inch 1280x768 display, an 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video, 16 GB of internal storage and runs the newly revamped BlackBerry 10 operating system.
Check back for the latest information on the BlackBerry Z10 as it becomes available.
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