BlackBerry 10 handsets enter FCC database

IDG News Service - A month ahead of the launch of Research In Motion's BlackBerry 10 operating system, a couple of handsets running the OS have appeared in a U.S. radio regulatory database.

There's not much about the phones that can be gathered from the documents, which appeared in the Federal Communications Commission's database of devices that have passed regulatory testing. Several years ago, the documents provided an early look at upcoming handsets, but the FCC began allowing companies to request that photos and user manuals are kept from public view until the devices are launched.

The phones are identified as the RFH121LW and RFF90LW/RFK121LW.

The former is compatible with both North American and international GSM and WCDMA frequencies as well as LTE bands 3, 7, 8 and 20. It also includes WiFi, Bluetooth and an NFC (near-field communication) chip.

The latter has all of the same cellular and low-power wireless support but differs in its LTE coverage. It is compatible with LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 17. That makes it technically compatible with AT&T's network in the U.S., although there is no indication in the documents of where it will be sold or on which carriers.

RIM is scheduled to unveil the first handsets running BlackBerry 10 at an event in New York on Jan. 30.

The carrier has already shown off development phones running pre-release versions of the new OS.

(Watch a demonstration of the key features in the BlackBerry 10 operating system.)

Martyn Williams covers mobile telecoms, Silicon Valley and general technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter at @martyn_williams. Martyn's e-mail address is martyn_williams@idg.com