BlackBerry 10 smartphone launched

The new BlackBerry 10 phone was launched today in a series of co-ordinated events around the globe.

The new handset, which was originally due to launch last autumn, but was set back, will have a new operating system, designed by parent company Research in Motion - which is now being re-branded under the BlackBerry brand.

The z10 will be available from tomorrow in the UK, but not in US until February or March.

A prototype for the phone made a brief appearance back in May last year, when RIM encouraged developers to build apps for the new operating system. As a result, it will be populated with ready-made apps including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn The Independent app and an Absolute Radio app.

In its latest earnings report, the company revealed a revenue decline of 47 per cent, compared with the previous year, but share price has been rising as the launch draws near.

Key features include:

• Peek into the BlackBerry Hub –  A new mobile computing paradigm where  what matters to customers is always one swipe away
• Flow – Delivers total integration across all apps, removing the barriers between applications that slow you down
• Keyboard –  Understands and adapts to customers, so they can type faster and more accurately
• BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) –  Allows customers to share anything with the people that matter to them in an instant
• BlackBerry® Balance™ technology – Protects what is important to customers