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BlackBerry Q10 official with keyboard, 3.1-inch display (update: may hit US in April)

BlackBerry (formerly RIM) has just unveiled the BlackBerry 10 device that, let's face it, many of the faithful really want: the keyboard-equipped Q10. It mates the QWERTY hardware input that BlackBerry fans have known and loved while including a 3.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Yes, it will have LTE, and there's already confirmed plans from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and Canadian providers to carry it -- though there's no firm release date or pricing. Check our hands-on with the Q10 for early impressions.

Update: During a post-event Q&A, Thorsten Heins said that we could likely expect the Q10 to reach the US sometime in April.

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Sprint to Bring Truly Unlimited 4G LTE to BlackBerry Q10 Smartphone

NEW YORK & OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), January 30, 2013 - Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced plans to carry the new BlackBerry® Q10 smartphone later this year. Powered by BlackBerry® 10, this device will benefit from Truly Unlimited? 4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile with no metering, no throttling, and no overages, all while on the Sprint network.

The new BlackBerry Q10 smartphone is based on the re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform and offers customers a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience. The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone will be the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard and touchscreen, delivering a smarter experience that continuously adapts to a customer's needs.

Additional details, including pricing, will be shared closer to availability. Customers can get more information about the new BlackBerry Q10 smartphone from Sprint at www.sprint.com/blackberry10.

"Sprint and RIM have been strong partners for more than a dozen years, and we have an extremely loyal base of BlackBerry customers who will appreciate the features of the new BlackBerry 10 platform," said David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. "We also look forward to adding BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to our portfolio and bringing the enterprise mobility solution to our customers."

"The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone delivers a powerful new platform for BlackBerry customers," said Carlo Chiarello, executive vice president-Global Smartphone Business, RIM. "Combined with the 4G LTE network and service plans from Sprint, BlackBerry Q10 customers will be delighted with a re-invented communication experience, seamless multitasking, easy access to multiple social networks and the peace of mind that BlackBerry security gives them."

BlackBerry 10 gives customers a faster and smarter experience that continuously adapts to their needs. Every feature, every gesture, and every detail is designed to keep customers moving and includes advancements such as:

* Peek and Flow into the BlackBerry Hub – A new mobile computing paradigm where what matters to customers is always only one swipe away
* Keyboard – Understands and adapts to customers, so they can type faster and more accurately, with a QWERTY keyboard that has rows separated by frets, making it easier to type accurately and with more confidence than ever before
* BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) – Allows customers to share things with the people that matter to them in an instant
* BlackBerry® Balance™ technology – Protects what is important to customers and the businesses they work for

Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 58 markets[i]. For the most up-to-date details on the Sprint 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. For detailed 4G LTE maps, providing coverage information right down to the address, please visit www.sprint.com/coverage. Customers are encouraged to check back often, as the maps will be updated when coverage in these markets is enhanced.

Expanding the 4G LTE Smartphone Lineup with BlackBerry 10

The latest BlackBerry smartphones announced.

Smartphones are personal and a source for communication. That's why having choices about which phone fits your mobile lifestyle needs and style preferences is important.

The new BlackBerry® 10 platform includes the BlackBerry® Hub, a center for communication that streamlines all of a user's messages, and a keyboard that adapts to their style. Verizon Wireless plans to offer the BlackBerry® Z10 and the BlackBerry® Q10, two global-ready 4G LTE smartphones running BlackBerry 10, providing customers with more 4G LTE smartphones to choose from. The BlackBerry Z10 will be available for $199.99 with a new two year customer agreement in Black and White color models, with the White model being exclusive to Verizon Wireless.

A challenge for many users is managing multiple inboxes including text messages, personal e-mails and social media accounts. BlackBerry Hub helps organize the incoming messages, so users can view and participate in conversations as they happen. Finger gestures on the screen let users easily 'peek' into the Hub from any screen, keeping conversations flowing.

The keyboard is no longer just about tapping letters on a screen. It's about how it adjusts to a user's typing style, whether it's a rapid or a one-handed typist. It's about the keyboard understanding what the user wants to say and creating personalized prediction and contextual auto-corrections. BlackBerry Calendar is another feature that understands and adapts to how the smartphone is used. Every time a new appointment or meeting is created, the calendar predicts and suggests who should be invited.

BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) users will be able to take advantage of 4G LTE to enjoy innovative BBM video chatting with screen sharing. Co-workers can screen share and review documents and presentations, and friends can chat about things like recent vacations, sharing pictures and video to make it a richer exchange.

Employee-owned devices are a reality in today's mobile world. Business users will be able to take advantage of BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and use features like BlackBerry® Balance™, which separates and secures work emails, apps and content without compromising the personal experience. Personal apps and data are kept separately so once the work day is done, you can easily switch the phone's persona to "personal."

AT&T Plans to Launch Blackberry Z10 and Blackberry Q10 Smartphones Powered by Blackberry 10, for Consumer and Business Customers

Dallas, Texas, January 30, 2013

AT&T* today announced plans to offer the new BlackBerry® Z10 and BlackBerry® Q10 smartphonespowered by BlackBerry® 10. The new BlackBerry Z10 is the first smartphone to launch with the re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform, offering customers a powerful and unique new mobile experience. It is the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone yet, with a smarter experience that continuously adapts to a customer's needs. The BlackBerry Q10 comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard that BlackBerry fans have loved for years, while the BlackBerry Z10 offers an impressive touchscreen keyboard that provides a modern and easy typing experience.

"BlackBerry is back. AT&T was the first carrier to launch BlackBerry smartphones and services in the U.S. and we are pleased to offer the fully re-designed and modern OS to our customers," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. "The new BlackBerry 10 platform is a fresh take on today's smartphones with all the key features BlackBerry fanatics need, including a refreshed version of RIM's unbeatable email solution, a better browser experience and easy access to all their messages in BlackBerry Hub."

"The BlackBerry Z10 smartphone delivers a powerful new platform for BlackBerry customers. Combined with the 4G LTE network and service plans from AT&T, BlackBerry Z10 customers will be delighted with a re-invented communication experience, seamless multitasking, easy access to multiple social networks, and the peace of mind that BlackBerry security gives them," said Carlo Chiarello, EVP, Global Smartphone Business at RIM.

The BlackBerry Z10 will be the first BlackBerry smartphone to run on AT&T 4G LTE, part of the nation's largest 4G network covering 288 million people.**

BlackBerry 10 is a re-designed, re-engineered and re-invented BlackBerry platform that creates a powerful and unique new mobile experience. BlackBerry 10 gives customers a faster and smarter experience that continuously adapts to their needs with advancements such as:

  • Peek and Flow into the BlackBerry Hub – A new mobile computing paradigm where what matters to customers is always only one swipe away

  • Keyboard – Understands and adapts to customers, so they can type faster and more accurately

  • BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) – Allows customers to share things with the people that matter to them in an instant

  • BlackBerry® Balance™ technology – Protects what is important to customers and the businesses they work for.

With the launch of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Service 10 platform, AT&T business and government customers will now have an additional option to choose from when deciding which Mobile Enterprise Mobility Management solution best serves their needs.

For more information, please visit http://www.att.com/blackberryz10.