BlackBerry confirms Android-powered Priv slider phone is coming by 2015-end

BlackBerry has finally confirmed that it is getting ready to launch and Android smartphone. Initially known as BlackBerry Venice, the handset will be released as BlackBerry Priv by the end of 2015 in "major markets in-store and online"

BlackBerry CEO, John Chen, while announcing the brand's fiscal 2016 second quarter results confirmed that the company is working on its first Android handset, which will be released with the suite of BB apps available on BlackBerry OS platform. Chen promises that the phone will be the most secure Android smartphone on the market.

"Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry's heritage and core mission of protecting our customers' privacy," he said. "Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform." Said John Chen.

"Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform." he added.

BlackBerry also confirmed that it will out more details about the BlackBerry Priv in the coming weeks.

BlackBerry Priv has a all-touchscreen large display that's curved on the sides and sports a sliding QWERTY keyboard. According to earlier rumors, BlackBerry Priv packs a 5.4-inch Quad HD display with 2560 x 1440 pixels screen resolution, Hexa-core Snapdragon 808 SoC, 3GB RAM, 32GB inbuilt storage, microSD card slot, 18-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash, OIS, PDAF, 5-megapixel front shooter and 4G LTE connectivity.

John Chen also made an appearance in a BNN Canada (News Channel) video with the Priv in hand. Check it out-

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