The new BlackBerry handset and operating system was announced recently, and steady rumors had already begun to develop that AT&T was going to offer the device at some point. In the announcement where the BlackBerry company, formerly known as Research in Motion or simply RIM, unveiled the new operating system and smartphones, executives stated that the brand-new Z10 handset would eventually be available from all major wireless carriers in the US.
Friday of last week AT&T officially announced via their website that they would indeed be launching the BlackBerry Z10 on their 4G LTE network in the United States. This is the first official announcement from any of the Big 4 carriers in the US, and the company also stated that the upcoming BlackBerry Q10 smartphone also offering the newly updated operating system would join the Z10 in their stable. BlackBerry is one of the mobile handset manufacturers credited with getting the smartphone ball rolling, as the original BlackBerry and subsequent versions delivered innovative features when the company was operating under the RIM label.
The handset became such a hit with Fortune 500 CEOs and executives that it was termed the CrackBerry for its addictive qualities. Single-handedly landing the company in the number one spot as leading smartphone manufacturer, the BlackBerry did not follow the marketplace, and instead the company stuck to design and feature mandates which eventually were passed over for more popular features and form factors.
The reinvented BlackBerry 10 operating system is a brave new step for the company, as it is pretty much a totally reworked OS. And the BlackBerry Z10 itself is also a huge departure from previous familiar and iconic BlackBerries, with the company’s new direction obviously following the most popular and successful current smartphone ideologies. Rather than buck the trend as they have done in the past, BlackBerry is integrating their business minded ideals and features with a profile that is geared towards non-business professionals as well.
Easily the most powerful, the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone to date, the Q10 will deliver the same physical QWERTY keyboard that BlackBerry fans have come to know and love, while the Z10 will offer a touchscreen keyboard. Jeff Bradley is senior vice president of Devices and Developer Services for AT&T Mobility, and he reminded us that AT&T was the first carrier to launch BlackBerry service in the United States. He said that his company is happy to be offering “the fully redesigned and modern OS” to their customers, but stopped short of revealing a launch date or pricing particulars.
