BlackBerry 10 set for launch on 30 January

Research In Motion (RIM) has confirmed it will unveil its BlackBerry 10 platform on 30 January 2013, and said it will also reveal the first two handsets running the software at the same event.

BlackBerry 10 is set to be a make-or-break launch for RIM, as it fights back against the erosion of its market share by Apple and numerous Android-based devices.

The platform was originally slated for launch sometime earlier this year, but this was pushed back until late 2012 because of component shortages, and then delayed until the first quarter of 2013 because of development delays.

RIM is still confident that it can bounce back by focusing on the needs of enterprise customers, and provide an end-user experience that is different from that of rivals.

"In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience - the BlackBerry Flow - that is unlike any smartphone on the market today," said RIM chief executive Thorsten Heins.

RIM recently gained a fillip with the disclosure that the BlackBerry 10 platform has been given US government security clearance with FIPS 140-2 certification ahead of its launch, while the firm is keen to talk up the enterprise benefits of the new software.

The firm has also learned some lessons from competing with Apple, and has been putting much effort into getting developers on side. RIM said in a statement that BlackBerry 10 will offer "a large catalogue of the leading applications from across the globe", including games and lifestyle content as well as applications designed for business and enterprise use.