RIM looks to Blackberry 10 launch to regain lost ground

Research in Motion, the Canadian company that invented the smartphone but has seen a sharp downturn in its stock and reputation over the past two years, will release a long-awaited new phone with new embedded software tomorrow. Early indications point to a serious refreshment of a device that has lagged behind its competition.

Research In Motion Ltd shares rose again yesterday as an appreciable degree of optimism about the company's crucial BlackBerry 10 launch in late January prevailed.

The Canadian company has had to overcome several obstacles not the least a painful management shakeup that led to co-CEOs, Mike Lazridis and Jim Balsillie stepping aside. Its stock felly from dizzying heights as the once-innovative  company failed to make much of the lucrative tablet sector with the BlackBerry PlayBook, and has had to lay off employees to protect its earnings.

But now, the company is making a bid to recapture its past glory with the BlackBerry 10 which has been promised for almost a year.

The new phone would be featured in a television ad during the Super Bowl game this weekend, and according to early reviews the device would be a game changer for the beleaguered company.

The Canadian company would unveil its 'BlackBerry 10' operating system and handsets powered by the new platform as it tries to  protect its turf, in a market now led by Apple's iPhone and phones based on Google's Android operating system.