BlackBerry Q10 Release Date Announced for June, Q5 Model Revealed

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The BlackBerry Q10 release date has been announced for June in the U.S.

The smartphone manufacturer confirmed the Q10 launch at a BlackBerry Live event in Orlando, which took place earlier this week.

BlackBerry also announced the Q5 smartphone, which will be a new handset aimed at emerging markets. This device will be available in July in select markets and will launch in four colors: black, white, red and pink.

"It is for youthful fans that are passionate, confident and bold, and it makes it easy for them to have fun, create, share and stay connected," said BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins regarding the Q5. The BlackBerry Q5 has yet not been confirmed for release in the U.S.

The BlackBerry Q10 debuted in both Canada and Britain earlier this month and is the second smartphone to be introduced that runs the new BlackBerry 10 operating system following the all touch Z10 model. Industry analyst Peter Misek recently boasted of the smartphone's success in those countries in a note to clients last week.

"Our checks indicate broad sell-outs with generally limited stock otherwise," said the Jeffries analyst. "Based on our store checks, the BlackBerry Q10 has been selling extremely well and has been sold out or seeing limited availability in Toronto and across the U.K."

Jeffries findings are based on checks with top mobile carriers and retailers in both countries including, Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada, and Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone, and Orange in Britain.

A popular U.K. retailer known as Selfridge & Co. recently stated that the new BlackBerry Q10 might be its "best selling smartphone ever."

The device reportedly sold 2,000 units in the first 90 minutes, according to blogger Michael Collins, who witnessed it.