RIM announces BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C with QWERTY keyboard

Research In MotionResearch In Motion today announced that it will offer a third BlackBerry 10 developer smartphone model. Unlike the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha A and Alpha B, the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C will come with a physical QWERTY keyboard.

As you know, there are BlackBerry 10 smartphones coming in Q1 2013 – an all-touch model similar to the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha, and a BlackBerry 10 smartphone with our industry-defining BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard.

Today we announced the next phase of the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha program – the BlackBerry Dev Alpha C. It is a testing device for developers so that you can adjust, debug, and test your BlackBerry 10 applications to get ready for the launch of the BlackBerry 10 QWERTY device next year.

Only a limited number of BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C devices will be produced. Developers wishing to get their hands on one will need to apply for it with RIM prioritizing access based on a point system:

  • Two or more applications submitted
  • 50 points for ported Android™ applications
  • 250 points for all other applications (Native, BlackBerry® WebWorks™, Adobe® AIR®)
  • 1500 points for Built For BlackBerry certified application
  • BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha A/B recipients start with 200 points
  • BlackBerry Elite Members start with 200 points

The BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha C offer will run from December 1, 2012 through February 5, 2013.

RIM will launch BlackBerry 10 on January 30th with two new BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

Read more: Research In Motion