US gov't department to pilot BlackBerry 10

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's Research In Motion says the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will launch a pilot program with its smartphones using its new operating system BlackBerry 10, likely in January.

The Waterloo, Ontario, smartphone maker says the U.S. agency will be among the first government departments to pilot BlackBerry 10, widely considered a make or break product for RIM. Research in Motion Ltd. has lost several other U.S. departments in favor of Apple Inc.'s new iPhone 5.

RIM recently announced that the BlackBerry 10 platform has been certified to allow government agencies to deploy BlackBerry 10 smartphones when the new operating system launches on Jan. 30.

RIM shares were up almost 5 percent to $13.69 in morning trading Thursday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. U.S.-traded shares rose 59 cents, or 4.4 percent, to $13.89 on the Nasdaq.