In an unexpected move, Research In Motion (RIM) at the BlackBerry World Conference in Florida on Tuesday introduced a prototype of their new line of smart phones that are set to hit the shelves soon.

Called BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha, the dummy model does not come with buttons upfront or a physical keyboard. Analysts say the move is a clear indication that RIM is targeting the business phone market which is largely dominated by Apple and Android.

Creating a set of apps for BlackBerry 10 is another purpose behind launching the prototype, RIM’s vice president of developer relations Alec Saunders said, indicating that the firm wants to cement a strong foothold in the business phone market.

The BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha comes with a 4.2-inch screen, along with wired and wireless connectivity features, and is exclusively built for developers, RIM discloses. The Canadian phone maker has already announced a whopping $10,000 (£6,167) perk for its developers whose apps are sanctioned before the BlackBerry 10 is made available on the market.

The decision to develop BlackBerry 10 is seen by analysts and experts as a strategic business move to grab the attention of iPhone and Android users. Following the disastrous performance of the PlayBook tablet, the BlackBerry developer is playing proactively whilst getting prepared to push another product.

The new smart phone will feature enhanced multitasking options and allow users to work on several apps at a time, sources said, suggesting that the Canadian firm is determined to make amends for critical software errors that cropped up last time.

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