First BlackBerry 10 handsets to be revealed at end of January

BlackBerry handset maker Research In Motion (RIM) has confirmed that it will lift the wraps on its first BlackBerry 10 hardware and formally introduce the new operating system at the end of January.

The launch event will happen simultaneously in multiple countries around the world and, as well as marking the introduction of the platform, will unveil the first two handsets to use the new OS for the first time.

"In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities," Thorsten Heins, chief executive of RIM, said in a statement on Monday.

The Canadian smartphone manufacturer has suffered a declining share in both the consumer and enterprise markets in recent months. However, it sees the transition to BlackBerry 10, its new operating system for tablets and smartphones, as the route back to users' hearts.

BlackBerry 10's headline features include an adaptive dual layered on-screen keyboard, BlackBerry Balance for keeping work and business content separately stored on the phone, and BlackBerry Flow and Hub for easier navigation and quick notification updates.