RIM looks to revive sales with new BlackBerry

Research In Motion (RIM) plans to give software developers prototypes for its new BlackBerry smartphone platform in early May, signalling RIM is a step closer to unveiling a handset it's betting on to lift sales. As many as 2,000 of the BlackBerry 10 (BB10) test models will be given out to developers at RIM's BlackBerry Jam conference in Orlando, Florida and they are designed primarily to allow developers to build applications using the underlying operating system, Alec Saunders, RIM's vice-president developer relations, said. "It's a huge step forward on our path to eventually launching BB10," Saunders said. "It's tangible evidence of the company making progress to finally shipping the device." RIM is counting on the BlackBerry 10 line-up, based on software called QNX it bought in 2010, to revive sales that have slumped in recent quarters, particularly in the US, its biggest and most competitive market. RIM's market share has dropped as consumers abandoned the BlackBerry for Apple's iPhone and touch-screen devices built on Google's Android software that offer a wider range of consumer apps. Saunders said the design of the test model and the screen's look and navigation will be very different from what eventually goes on sale to consumers. "The experience on this device from a consumer's perspective is not in any way indicative of what the final experience on BlackBerry 10 will be like," he said.