Research In Motion are preparing for the biggest launch of their history, it is make or break time with their BlackBerry 10 operating system next year. They have introduced the Dev Alpha C smartphone for developers, so they can test their applications and prepare for the launch of the Blackberry 10 QWERTY smartphone next year.

RIM are allowing developers to trade their Alpha devices for a limited edition Blackberry 10 smartphone. The company want to prepare their developers for the January 30th launch of Blackberry 10, when they release a more traditional model with full QWERTY physical keyboard. This is sure to appeal to the business user.

Reports indicate that RIM have already circulated 7,500 touch based phones to the developers. Releasing the new model with physical keyboard will ensure that programs will be ready for launch.

RIM are remaining quiet about the hardware and no technical details have been offered, but they have outlined what a developer has to do in order to get a Dev Alpha C handset.

The company are making only a small number of phones for developers, and those people interested in getting one have to demonstrate that they are making at least 2 applications for Blackberry 10 OS.

The developers are being ranked on a point scheme. They get 50 points for ported Android applications, 250 points for native, Webworks and Adobe Air applications, and 1,500 points for applications certified using the Built for BlackBerry program, according to their blog post.

If you already have an Alpha ‘touch' device without physical keyboard or are a Blackberry ‘Elite' member then you start off with 200 points. Interested developers can register on this website.

Kitguru says: A lot riding on this launch for Research In Motion.

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