Pricing and availability: New BlackBerry 10 smartphones Z10, Q10

New Delhi: After lengthy delays, Research In Motion Ltd. unveiled its first two phones with the new BlackBerry 10 system. The Q10 will have a physical keyboard, while the Z10 has only a touch-screen keyboard.

RIM also announced a company name change to BlackBerry to maintain a single brand. Most analysts consider a BlackBerry 10 success to be crucial for the company's long-term viability.

Worldwide, the company has several key markets that are revealing pricing and availability today, including the UK, Canada and UAE:

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  After a long delay, BlackBerry, the name by which Research In Motion will now call itself, has announced the launch of its first BlackBerry 10 smartphones - Z10 and Q10.

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  BlackBerry says it says will put the company on the comeback trail in a market it once dominated, promising its BlackBerry 10 devices will wow consumers and businesses alike when they hit stores.

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  The Blackberry Z10 is a full-touchscreen smartphone, while the Q10 is the first Blackberry 10 smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard.

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  The Z10 has a 4.2 inch screen at 356 ppi.

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  BlackBerry announced that over 70,000 apps are now available for BlackBerry 10 devices and includes Skype, Amazon Kindle, WhatsApp, SAP and Angry Birds.

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  The interface is gesture based. Users can performs various functions with swipes. To access punctuation and other characters, users can use swipe gestures.

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  The BlackBerry 10 phones boast fast browsers, new features, smart cameras and, unlike previous models, enter the market primed with a large app library.

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  RIM promised a new system to catch up, using technology it got through its 2010 purchase of QNX Software Systems.

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In Canada, the BlackBerry Z10 will be available on February 5. Pricing will vary by carrier partner, but it will retail for around $149.99 on a 3-year contract.

- In the UK, the BlackBerry Z10 will be available beginning tomorrow on pay monthly contracts and pre-pay plans from EE, O2, Vodafone, Phones 4u, BT, 3UK and the Carphone Warehouse. BlackBerry Z10 smartphones will be available fully subsidised on competitive monthly pay contracts. Price points will vary according to carriers and retail partners.

- In Canada, the BlackBerry Z10 will be available on February 5th. Pricing will vary by carrier partner, but it will retail for around $149.99 on a 3-year contract.

- In the UAE, the BlackBerry Z10 will be available on February 10. Pricing will vary by carrier partner, but unsubsidized it will retail for AED 2,599.

- In the US market, we expect availability with most carriers for the BlackBerry Z10 to be in March. Today, US carriers will start announcing pre-registration and price plans.

Many of the company's global partners have already launched or will be launching pre-registration and pre-order sites. The company expects the first global carriers to launch the BlackBerry Q10 in April. BlackBerry will announce new pricing and availability information as carriers roll out around the world.

Also See

• RIM renames itself BlackBerry, launches the first BlackBerry 10 phones Z10 and Q10
• Will BlackBerry 10 help BlackBerry regain its lost glory?

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