BB10

Research In Motion started sending out test versions of its BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 software and pre-production BlackBerry 10 smartphones to a select group of 120 enterprise and government customers.

Research In Motion unveiled a new program to get its enterprise customers ready--and signed up--for BlackBerry 10, which RIM will officially unveil Jan. 30. The program, called the BlackBerry 10 Ready Program, is part of RIM's effort to woo both individual consumers and longtime business customers to the new platform, which the company hopes will revive its fortunes.

Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins and other executives expressed confidence in the company's forthcoming launch of BlackBerry 10, and RIM confirmed that it will release its first BB10 devices to consumers sometime in February.

Microsoft's major push to grab market share for its Windows Phone 8 platform is getting under way this week, with support coming from AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA in the United States. Meanwhile, Research In Motion said it will hold a launch event Jan. 30 to officially unveil its BlackBerry 10 platform, which is currently in testing with more than 50 carriers worldwide. The timing puts the platforms on a collision course as Microsoft and RIM try to win the hearts of carriers and consumers.

Research In Motion said it will hold a launch event Jan. 30 to officially unveil its BlackBerry platform, a move that represents the company's first public step to revive its fortunes.

Research In Motion said it has delivered its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 platform to more than 50 carriers for lab certification, a critical step toward a launch planned for early next year.