BlackBerry Z10 hits U.S. stores this week - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

Call it a comeback: BlackBerry launches new Z10

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BlackBerry's share in the U.S. smartphone market dropped more than 40 percent in three years. (Source: FOX) BlackBerry's share in the U.S. smartphone market dropped more than 40 percent in three years. (Source: FOX)

(FOX) – Friday begins a crucial week for BlackBerry as the company will launch its new Z10 smartphone in the U.S. and report earnings on Thursday.

AT&T will become the first U.S. carrier to start selling the Z10, which boasts a new operating system. T-mobile will begin new BlackBerry sales on Tuesday, followed by Verizon on Thursday.

Shares of BlackBerry are up more than 20 percent in March, but the company's share of the U.S. smartphone market has dropped from nearly 50 percent in 2009 to 6 percent this year.

Analysts don't believe BlackBerry can regain that position, but some say the company can carve out a niche from their current base of 79 million subscribers.

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