RIM testing BlackBerry 10 devices on over 50 carriers

The launch of the BlackBerry 10 devices is looming close, and Research in Motion CEO Thorsten Heins has recently announced that the upcoming BlackBerry 10 handsets are now being tested on over 50 carriers.

In the announcement, Thorsten Heins states that Research in Motion (RIM) has passed a critical milestone in the development of its new mobile computing platform, BlackBerry 10. In the past week, BlackBerry 10 achieved Lab Entry with more than 50 carriers, which is a key step in their preparedness for the launch of BlackBerry 10, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2013.

He stated, “We made this commitment during our recent results conference call and we have delivered. This process will continue in the coming months as more carriers around the world formally evaluate the devices and our brand new software”.

BB 10 devices on their way

Heins went on to say that he has spent the past several weeks on the road, visiting carrier partners around the world to show them the BlackBerry 10 platform and to share with them RIM's plans for launch. He claimed that their response has been tremendous.

In the announcement, Heins claimed that the carriers were excited about the prospect of launching BlackBerry 10 in their markets. He claimed, “Our respective teams are now engaged on the technical and commercial preparation of the launch of BlackBerry 10 and the lab entry is an important milestone in that context”.

He ended the announcement by stating that the RIM is working towards the launch of the devices. The brand’s development teams are working to bring plenty of applications to BlackBerry 10, and that the enterprise teams have started to present BlackBerry 10 devices and services to its business customers.

This definitely comes as positive news for BlackBerry fans and Research in Motion as the brand really needs a kick start as it is rapidly falling behind the likes of Android and iOS.

RIM is completely overhauling the operating system on its phones with its BB10 release and the new gesture-based user interface. The company is counting on BB10 to arrest a precipitous decline in market share over the past year and longer.

In the end, the success or failure of the BB10 will hinge by how warmly it's embraced by consumers, many of whom have already switched to Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy, especially in North America and Europe.

Test versions of the BB10 have won praise from carriers and developers, but the true test still hinges on RIM's ability to win back market share and the hearts of an ever growing base of touchscreen users.