RIM TRANSFORMED INTO BLACKBERRY OFFICIALY

 Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian giant is proving itself with the new BlackBerry 10 operating system and two new mobile devices.The good news is that early reviewers are getting the new smartphones and the operating system, but there are still questions about RIM's competitive edge.

It'is no surprise that RIM has struggled to stay relevant in the smartphone arena ever since the advent of the iPhone and all the many different Android-powered mobile devices.However, once Nokia partnered with Microsoft and Google hinted at a more comprehensive smartphone strategy, the company had every reason to be worried. The company has officially changed its name to BlackBerry and has called upon the popular American singer Alicia Keys to be the new Global Creative Director.

As the new brand ambassador for BlackBerry, Alicia Keys will be able to tap into her many connections in the world of entertainment to promote a device that used to be an icon of the hip-hop world not that long ago.

The beautiful and honey-voiced Alicia Keys has a considerable task ahead. One of the two new BlackBerry devices, the Z10 will not be available in the United States until March, but it has already been reviewed by American tech journalists.

The consensus is that the Z10 and its BlackBerry 10 operating system are ingenious enough to hold their own, but one review by CNN Money in New York explained that the experience feels a bit dated.The new devices powered by BlackBerry 10 will not disappoint those who loved the physical keyboard of previous smartphones. The touchscreen virtual keyboard is probably the best in the market, and the predictive text solution and multitasking responsiveness makes it an agile contender.There is also the "balance" feature which is a practical solution to keeping personal and corporate affairs separate within a single device.BlackBerry fans will surely recognize the familiar look and feel of previous operating systems, but with greater speed, added functionality and intuitive responsiveness.

In that manner, the BlackBerry 10 and the devices it powers feel more intimate and attractive. Being a brand-new operating system means that BlackBerry fans will have to wait for apps to become available for the new OS and its devices.Apps for Facebook and Twitter will do for the time being, but BlackBerry users will certainly clamor for Google Maps, Pandora, YouTube, and other favorites. Angry Birds is there at the moment, but Spotify is missing.

Only time will tell if BlackBerry 10 will be the former RIM's salvation. The Z10 and Q10 smartphones will initially launch in markets where BlackBerry enjoys stronger market share, like Canada and the United Kingdom, before they arrive in the U.S.