Research in Motion Ltd. (BBRY): Z10 Arrives in U.S. via A&T Inc. (T) March 22

Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) – ahem, BlackBerry Ltd. – has been generating some buzz since it launched its latest BlackBerry 10 operating system contained in the Z10 handset (and soon, the QWERTY keyboard Q10). Now, whether that buzz is positive, negative or ambivalent is up to perception as we don’t have any hard numbers from the company regarding Z10 sales in the countries where it has been available. The company’s earnings report isn’t due fo a few more days.

However, one of the biggest mobile markets in the world is the U.S., and there has been some uncertainty and vagueness about the release date of the Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) Z10 handset in the States, but we seem to be getting one of our first answers. A couple of unnamed sources are revealing that AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is making plans to release the new BlackBerry handset March 22, which is consistent with the mid- to late-March timeline that had been discussed in several forums in the last few weeks.

Officially, Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) has not announced a U.S. release date, and none of the major U.S. carriers has officially made any similar announcements about carrying the phone, other than Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S) announcing that it would carry the Q10 rather than the touchscreen version of the phone.

“BlackBerry has not announced official launch dates for the BlackBerry Z10 in the U.S. and we are not able to confirm any rumored launch dates on behalf of our carrier partners,” Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) stated in an e-mail statement. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has previously indicated that it expected to carry the Z10 by the end of the month, but it has not commented on its release date in response to this latest story about its top competitor.

What do you think? Is this a good time for Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ:BBRY) to release its new phone? Based on what your seen or heard, what are you thoughts about the new BB10 OS? Would you at least consider such a smartphone? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions in any stock mentioned.

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