RIM gets security certification from US for Blackberry 10

SMARTPHONE VENDOR Research in Motion (RIM) has won security certification from the US government ahead of the launch of its new smartphone operating system, Blackberry 10.

Expected to hit store shelves in the first quarter of 2013, Blackberry 10 received FIPS 140-2 certification on Thursday, which allows government agencies to use the devices running the mobile operating system as soon as they are launched.

The certification could finally be some good news for RIM, which hasn't seen the best times of late, and could help boost sales of its new smartphones after they are released.

Once at the forefront of the mobile phone industry, RIM has gradually been pushed out of the smartphone race. However, RIM impressed investors with its fiscal second quarter earnings, despite posting a £235m loss.

Announced in September, RIM's second quarter earnings saw the firm's shares leap by 18 percent, even though the company posted its lowest smartphone shipments since 2008. It announced that it shifted 7.4 million smartphones during the quarter as well as 130,000 Playbook tablets, probably thanks to retailers' discounts.

Last week, RIM also started the carrier testing phase for Blackberry 10. In a statement, CEO Thorsten Heins said that RIM has delivered its mobile operating system to some 50 carriers worldwide for testing and approval. The move should put Blackberry 10 on pace for general release in early 2013.

Check out our Blackberry 10 hands-on review. µ