Statement from RIM CEO: BlackBerry 10 passes critical milestone; achieves Lab Entry with more than 50 carriers

First? Want!!

Nice to see this, you go Glen coco!

AYYYYYYYEEEE BB10 AYEE! Want it, NOW!

RIP iphone

The key words here are: "technical and commercial preparation". RIM needs to teach carriers how to sell the devices and how to show the winning features of BB10...

What does Lab Entry mean?

Now it gets interesting, since I think a lot of the leaks picked up by sites like this come from carriers.

First :D and realllly good news to read this ! Was thinking about changing to a other phone. But really , i just love BB ! YEAH RIMMMM ! I'll be one of the first guys running around with a BB 10 !

Blackberry by choice , bold 9900 & BB playbook

Nice bump in the stock, perhaps because of this. I'm excited

STAY OPEN TO POSSIBILITIES. BE BOLD.

sweeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet. Carrier testing takes around 3 months right (correct me if that's incorrect)? That would put launch at Jan 31.

WTH ? Thought I was first -.- seems like I wasn't :p sorry guys :D

Blackberry by choice , bold 9900 & BB playbook

Is there a link to the official press release?

Lets hope carriers can get this (these, if N-Series got through too) devices passed through testing quickly. I want my BB10.

Do they submit an OS for carrier testing, like on a Dev device, or the actual finished retail phone?

RIM better train the electronics retail stores too.

I looked at a PlayBook demo at a local electronics store, there was no salesperson around...

Could not even figure out how to get to HomeScreen back then (swipe from top to bottom)...
(For the record, I strongly feel a HomeScreen button makes sense, and is a big time saver).

No working demo for me, no sales.

Our family ended up buying a competitor brand.

This may be part of the reason why even BlackBerry users are slow to use PlayBook.

Settle down people. BB10 still vaporware for at least 3 and possible 5 more months.

Some folks asked what lab entry means. There are multiple stages where smartphones need to be evaluated to make sure they meet the technical requirements of the wireless operator and their network.

Carrier lab entry is generally the final stage and indicates RIM is reasonably confident the smartphones will pass the majority of the tests. Prior to this stage, RIM would have independently tested the smartphone at vendor labs, which replicate the tests used by carriers. This is no easy task since AT&T has different tests than T-Mobile which is different than Vodafone.

Once majority of the tests pass at the vendor labs, RIM would enter carrier labs.

*EDIT* sorry for double post

Some folks asked what lab entry means. There are multiple stages where smartphones need to be evaluated to make sure they meet the technical requirements of the wireless operator and their network.

Carrier lab entry is generally the final stage and indicates RIM is reasonably confident the smartphones will pass the majority of the tests. Prior to this stage, RIM would have independently tested the smartphone at vendor labs, which replicate the tests used by carriers. This is no easy task since AT&T has different tests than T-Mobile which is different than Vodafone.

Once majority of the tests pass at the vendor labs, RIM would enter carrier labs.

Also, they would enter carrier labs on final hardware (from a component perspective) although not necessarily final exterior design.

* BlackBerry by choice *
Awesome. And here we go!

Sweet. It can take as long as 17 weeks from what I hear. Hopefully they launch it asap.

I'm ready to give up my Windows Phone, but BB is really dragging their feet. Show us the phone. I could care less about the defunct playbook.

Great news! I know carriers have commitments with other manufacturers so this is probably just a dream, but it would be reeeaaaaallllllllllly nice to have a carrier come out and spread some love for BB10. RIM has been bashed so much in the media that it would be great for buzz to start based off of what the carriers have seen and not by RIM marketing alone. This is especially true in the U.S. where people have all but forgot about RIM and BB.

Someone once said patience is a virtue but I can't wait for BB10 and hope that Q1 turns out to be January and not March. Either way 2013 is the year of the BB10 revolution!

BTW, thoughts and prayers to the Crackberry fans on the east coast. Help them out and make a donation to the Red Cross. Also, support Kevins love of all things body hair related (see his post about Movember). I personally think a Hulk Hogan inspired fu-manchu would go nicely with his flowing locks.

Very curious to see how they ramp up the marketing. It doesn't make sense to start seeing ads and commercials before Christmas. Do they start in early January when most people have accumulated a large Visa bill? Whatever the case... I hope they get it right and bring some pride back to the brand. Nice to see they are finally sticking to promises and (let's hope) the targeted dates.

RIM stock currently up 3.5% :)

Woot! Woot! Can't wait to get my sweaty hands on a new BB10...I'll play with a working model at ATT and then when my contract is up, snatch one up in June!

I'm still licking my wounds from the original 64gb PlayBook purchase. I'm going to sit on the sidelines for this one and watch things roll out.

Imagine RIM pulled a fast one on us and released the phone in December?

I know I know, wishful thinking.

The market really liked the news, RIM shares are up 4.43%

Okay - here's a plan.

CB should immediately market either a VISA, MC, or AMEX pre-paid card with CB and BB10 artwork/logos. Would come in two denominations: a one device value and a two device value ($600 / $1200 ??). We can buy them here, sort of like a pre-pre-order of our BB10 devices, so when announced/available we can walk into the carrier stores / retailers and drop our CB/BB10 card on the counter and say "Gimme my BB10!!!!"

Maybe instead, buy the card with any value today and add to it over the next 2-3-4 months like a BB10 savings account, so the money will be there when it BB10 phones hit the street.

How about it CB? Can't be that difficult to get something like that going - so many pre-paid / re-loadable cards out there with so much branding attached . . .

Keep up the great work TH.

This GREAT new(s) period. The egg shell has been cracked, rise like the phoenix RIM!

Just a thought.... if the lab entry is the final stage of the approval process, which can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, is it not a possibility that RIM may be poising themselves to launch BEFORE Christmas and prove to all that no only did they get the platform to launch, but they did it AHEAD of schedule??? Not holding my breath but I do like to dream.

The wait for BB10 just gets more exciting! Glad I'm waiting.

I have said it before but I will say it again, RIM should bless its lucky stars for a CEO like Thorsten Heins. He had the discipline to stick to his guns and bring forth a new generation of smart phones. I can't wait to see it.

I have only one wish. Could BB10 have some sort of killer consumer feature like video phone via BBM that allows people to split or share screen information? Even better if it had cross platform capabilities. Man, I would personally show it off to every iPhone user in the building and then ask why they are so loyal to a brand that is so "2007". It is nice to turn the tables every once in a while.

Good News!!! Now lets start seeing some real leaks with great pics of the devices and a nice walkthrough of the OS!!!

I feel bad for those that DIDNT BUY STOCKS when they were below $5cdn, cause the shares are going going going up up up and up. Im in the money cant wait for BB10 honey!!

Go RIM!!!

Awesome!!!

BB10~Believe!

Carrier testing varies by carrier, 60 days is typical, but can take longer, sometimes they ask questons, or there are corrections, rework.

Launching before Xmas is nuts. There is no time for training, and during the Holiday you have two problems. Temp help that doesn't know the product, permanent help that doesn't know the product. They are in the "just taking orders mode"

Not everywhere in the world is it Xmas.

I like the tax refund season. Phone costs a few hundred, well within the refund number.

Nick,

PS: For those who think it is vapor ware. At this point, no chance, the labs don't test stuff that isn't pretty well baked. It has more to do with radio behavior and much of the testing is to make sure it plays nice on their network.

Let's hope these 50 carriers aren't all in Asia, though.

CB user "lenn5" stated above bb10 is vaporware for atleast 3 more months. Everyone write down his username. When leaks and videos come out of people with the device before then send him a message and say "YOU WERE WRONG AND I WAS RIGHT"

I also saw similar articles to this on CNet and TechRadar. Finally at least something positive to read about BlackBerry on other sites as well.
Right now Blackberry needs as much positive news in every tech site as possible.
I just really hope that RIM will get really, really - I mean really - talented people to create lots of hype before and even more during the announcement of BB10 and new devices. After all everyone knows that it is all in the marketing.

Just take Apple for example. Every time Tim Cook is on stage he brainwashes people. He uses this toned down voice to tell how everything about Apple is "PHENOMENAL" and "MIND-BOGGLING". He pulls up some made up statistics which show how every product is best-in-class or has defined a new category etc, etc...

RIM has a great CEO. A man who - when Blackberry fans are offended - speaks up to the press. He should gather around him a very professional team of advertisers and marketers which will know how to portrait every great aspect there is about BB10 (I am sure there are plenty).

Keep up the good work and make everyone proud...

Hopefully we see some BB10 superbowl commercials here in the states.

As a PlayBook owner I really which just the best for RIM... BUT honestly, with Microsoft offering windows 8 ( full truly pc capable "mobile computers ") with windows office support, flash and silverlight support, plus more than 100,000 applications at this time (more than blackberry at this time ) with the mayor apps already on board (Skype, netflix, hulu plus, kindle and word with friends ) I just pray for RIM get the same or even more capabilities than windows, because if they don't I really don't see why someone would pick a blackberry instead of a windows device or even worse.. Instead of a iphone or android

Glad to see they are making progress. I personnaly don't clog my BB with tons of apps. I use some apps that are really handy but when it comes to watching movies and tv I dont want to see the mobile bill afterwards. BB10 I think will be much better because they have a new CEO and I think since they already pushed the date from Fall 2012 to Q2 2013 that the software would have gone through much more testing. OS 6 was slow, OS7 only a few problems but I think they will end up with a reliable OS.

Yesterday Disney announces Star Wars: Episode VII in 2015 and now this news, how fitting. The RIMpire Strikes Back!

The RIM should adopt the testing of the carriers as the testing for the Blackberry 10. It would give the RIM the faster approval for the carriers to carry their products.

- Rezaur Rahman

WAY TO GO RIM. SHOW THOSE ISHEEP HOW ITS DONE!!!!!

They gonna launch it Super Bowl Sunday....That'll put you in the first week of Feb.

Don't underestimate this milestone. I work in this industry: Getting a carrier to free up the space and resources for ANY Lab test - especially close to the year end - is a major accomplishment.

Typically carriers stop all testing and abuse of things (and certainly any upgrade to the network) about December 15th or so - to resume again about January 10th or so (depends on the Carrier and other conditions.

Depending upon the test regime it is quite possible that they could be finished by December 15th (when the carriers go to a minimal dont-break-anything-over-the-holiday state).

Many carriers have outsourced their operations to 3rd parties (like Ericsson, Huwaei, NSN, etc) so that 50 carriers testing on their own is actually a pretty big deal.

It's all goodness.

Dear RIM,

Could I please see a list of the carriers? Does one of them spell their name S-P-R-I-N-T?!? If not, please let them know that they will have one less subscriber next year.

Thank you,

James Harmeling

"My name is James and I am a BlackBerryaholic, thank you for letting me share."

Want to see the mighty Thor and the new CMO and the rest of the team in barong tagalog check this out, very nice pineapple fabric :-) ---@horhe316: "@BlackBerryPH:RIM CEO Thorsten Heins vsted the Philippines recently to pave the way 4 d upcoming BB 10. http://t.co/FTXzsgM4" #bb10believe

Lets hope AT&T is one of those carriers... If not, we won't be seeing BB10 on Big Blue until Q4 of 2013 with how slow those f_ckers are....

Well yah. Lookin' forward to Blackberry10. Let's be realistic. Where is the list of carriers? if the list includes the "johnbirchsociety" network, we are in trouble. Even John Pacskowinski in All Things Idiotic didn't have that much negative to say. Not that his opinions actually matter.

Reality is that the digital world is stupid Apple. God forbid Windows, Android actually, or Blackberry have advantages to the Apple OS. Those advantages will soon become apparent.

Hang in there bro's.

RIM read between the lines:
Stock is up because investors want ACTION, not promises, no delays.

I am super excited and very happy about the progress RIM has made. Can't wait for BB10.

Cheers

Does anyone know what the time line usually is for going to market after Lab testing?

Is it possible they are ahead of sched? I'm not throwing out a theory because i have no clue how long these things take but considering all the missed dates previously, they are due for a miss on the early side?

I hate to even bring this up, however is anyone as concerned as I am that this is great news, however flat out may be too late? I have no doubt that many of us will be getting BB10 devices, however we actually a small number of the population. I am concerned that over the last year or so a ton of people have given up on BB and have moved to other platforms. Isn't something like 5M+ that went with the iPhone 5 just in the first weekend? I have a fear that so many have made the switch that it could be difficult to get the numbers back to make this a complete success. Hope my concerns are unfounded.

I don't see how if Microsoft can't even get a good number of apps, how is RIM going to?

+1. And not only an advantage but the respect of people as being the one who invented it. In the late 1990's Microsoft was king and Apple was a lowly company trying to survive. Since the inception of iPad 3 years ago, Apple has been #1, but with their innovation behind them, the world is ready for some amazing new smartphone technology. And I firmly believe Blackberry will rise from the ashes like a great Phoenix. If you look at Blackberry stocks in the past month or so, it has risen from $6 a share to almost $8 a share. That's a substantial rise in a short amount of time and represents investors faith in the new BB10. Blackberry still has a long road ahead and many things to conquer but struggle builds character, and determination which results in great success.
________________________________________
I’d rather be a Black Sheep than an iSheep any day.

iPhone is a crap.

Man, the force is strong around here. :)

In the name of the father,
And of the son,
And of the holy spirit. Amen.

And on the 3rd month it rose again from the dead, it ascended to 50 carriers, and sits in the right hand of thor almighty, maker of bb10.

#step one : Back on tracks : done
#step two : target and organize : done
#step three : produce software and deliver : done
#step four : enroll developers : done
#step five : spread the word : running
#step five : tests : running

Can't wait for the #go !

i am a big fan of BB, i have the 9850, and the awesome playbook 16gb. I only have 1 friend who has a playbook 16gb , and no phone. my problem is, there are alot of BB haters.. i try to show people the playbook is great, but its not enough. I need some real hard proof evidence that the BB10 phones are gonna blow the other competitors out of the water. especially these ipeople. If the BB10's dont come out before christmas, they will certainly lose alot of business. ALOT!! On the other hand i dont want the hardware if it doesn't have the software. I hated getting the Playbook and not having the software. I felt like such a loser... the worst part i constantly hear about RIM is " delay, delay delay..." can we break this pattern? who's in charge at RIM! Fire who ever is not making the deadlines!! Get these BB10 phones out there( with the software of course!) IF YOU SELL THE PHONE.... PEOPLE WILL COME.....

Geez I really hope I can see the newest bb10 even just a little after everyone else. I was finally able to get the 9650 here in rural alaska just last year. now the carrier doesn't even sell any blackberry.