Leaked: is this the new entry level BlackBerry?

Tech writer Lucas Atkins of N4BB has what appears to be leaked pictures of the upcoming R10, the entry level BlackBerry 10 device that is supposedly based on the older Curve devices.

A cheaper version of BlackBerry’s new operating system is viewed by many as important because the company’s growth in recent years has come from emerging markets, where “feature phones”, not smartphones, are the norm.

Despite a disastrous 2012 in the United States, BlackBerry managed to add to its subscriber base. The BlackBerry remains the top-selling smartphone in places like the Philippines, Thailand and in Indonesia, the UAE, and Africa.

BlackBerry is extremely popular in emerging markets because its data usage plans are reasonable, its BBM messaging service is a runaway hit, and its phones are cheaper than competitors such as the iPhone.

The BlackBerry Z10 was released in February to generally favourable reviews, but the Q10, a device with a familiar physical keyboard, has the makings of a smash hit just a week after its release. Last weekend, century-old U.K high-end department store Selfridges said the Q10 was its fastest ever selling consumer electronics product.

N4BB has a rundown of the anticipated specs of the new device here.

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