Testing underway for new BlackBerry 10

Research In Motion has revealed the new BlackBerry is now being tested by 50 wireless carriers around the world.

The smartphone maker branded the move a "key step" as it prepares to launched the new BlackBerry 10 software and phones early next year.

Seen as crucial to RIM's survival as a company, the new product will be in direct competition with the newly released iPhone and Android devices.

"I'm very pleased to confirm that we have passed a critical milestone in the development of our brand new mobile computing platform," says Thorsten Heins, RIM CEO.

"This process will continue in the coming months as more carriers around the world formally evaluate the devices and our brand new software."

With RIM's current software heavily focused on email and messaging, the new BlackBerry 10 has been redesigned to incorporate internet browsing and apps at a level expected by smartphone customers.

Appointed at CEO in January, Heins had initially hoped to recover the tens of billions lost in market value by the company earlier this year with a release during 2012, but conceded 2013 as a realistic aim.

The late release will mean RIM will miss the holiday shopping season before xmas, coming months after Apple's successful launch of the iPhone 5.

“I have spent the last several weeks on the road visiting with carrier partners around the world to show them the BlackBerry 10 platform and to share with them our plans for launch," says Heins, unfazed by the delay.

"Their response has been tremendous.

"The hard work will not stop here as we build toward launch.”

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