[breakingpoint0]

I had a thought the other day while reading the N-Series Keyboard article. One of the comments was about the lack of leaks in relation to the N-Series. We have seen a large number of leaks related to the L-Series but nearly nothing on the N. This got me thinking about carrier testing, since this would be the most likely place the leaks would happen.

How does carrier testing actually work? Do manufacturers have to provide the final phone which will be generally available? Or, could the manufacturers provide a "reference" phone of sorts that has all the guts of the real phone, without the external look of the real phone?

I'm assuming both L and N Series are going to have the same guts(we haven't really heard otherwise and it wouldn't make sense if they were different), just different looks and screen sizes. If that is the case(and my third question above proves true) couldn't RIM theoretically provide carriers with only the L-Series for testing? If that is the case it would explain why not much has come out about the N-Series. Not only does it mean we might not see the N-Series until Jan. 30th, it could mean that what we are seeing coming from carrier is a "reference" phone with all the final guts, but a different external look.

I'd like to know more about carrier testing as it could hold some interesting insight(plus I'm just genuinely curious)! Wouldn't it be interesting if everything we have seen thus far is not the final product, would make for a neat surprise on Jan. 30th!

[md03wx]

I would bet they need to test both devices independently. The N-series would have to be in carrier hands rather soon for them to be able to make March (which hopefully means some leaks for us).

[bluetroll]

maybe only certain carriers have it right now.... like the big 3 in Canada.