Showing posts with label Blackberry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blackberry. Show all posts

Friday, 15 December 2017

BlackBerry Priv support has ended


The Priv was BlackBerry's first Android smartphone and it sported a bold design featuring a slideout keyboard. It debut in November 2015, and now two years later the Canadian company has announced that it is ending software support for Priv. 

This means it will not get future monthly security updates from BlackBerry. However, in case of a critical security vulnerability gets exposed, BlackBerry will deliver the necessary patches for the fix. It's worth mentioning that during the support period BlackBerry used to push the security update to the Priv monthly without fail.

Having said that, BlackBerry will continue to fulfill all warranty obligations for the Priv. 

The company also revealed that it will soon introduce a trade-up program for current Priv users, as well as for users with BB10 and BBOS device. Under the program, BlackBerry will offer discounts and incentives to Priv users to upgrade their device to a new Keyone or Motion.

Lastly, the company also confirmed that it will continue to support devices running BB10 and BBOS for atleast two more year. Unfortunately, some ancillary service will be discontinued such as the BlackBerry World app store (12/31/2019), the BlackBerry Travel site (February 2018), and the Playbook video calling service (March 2018). 

Via

Wednesday, 22 November 2017

BlackBerry KEYone successor with Snapdragon 660 chip, 6GB RAM benchmarked


It appears that BlackBerry is working on the successor of the KEYone. To remind you, the KEYone was released earlier this year featuring BlackBerry's signature QWERTY physical keyboard, and was said to the last phone designed by BlackBerry.

The KEYOne's successor with model number QUALCOMM BBF100-1 was found listed on Geekbench and comes with some major upgrades.

As a reminder the KEYOne arrived with features like 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixel display, Snapdragon 625 chip, 3GB RAM (Black Edition with 4GB RAM), 64GB storage, 12MP/8MP rear & front cameras and 3505mAh battery.

According to Geekbench, KEYOne's successor will ship with Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor, 6GB RAM and run Android 8.0 Oreo. The phone scored 1532 on the single-core test and a 4185 on the multi-core test.


Unfortunately other details were not revealed, but since it is KEYOne's successor, the phone is likely to come with QWERTY keybaord and a display with 1620 x 1080 pixels resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio.

The BlackBerry KEYone was introduced at CES 2017, and made its official debut at MWC 2017. A similar launch strategy can be expected for the BlackBerry KEYtwo. 

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Monday, 9 October 2017

BlackBerry Motion goes official with IP67 rating, 4000mAh battery


BlackBerry has official taken wraps off the all new Motion smartphone at the GITEX Technology week in Dubai. The phone is built by TCL and boasts IP67 water and dust resistant body. It also packs a beefy 4000mAh battery, and supports Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging tech, that promises up to 50 percent charge in 40 minute, while the battery life is claimed to be up to two days.

The BlackBerry Motion features 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display and is powered by 2GHz octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor backed by Adreno 506 GPU. It comes with 4GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, which can be expanded via microSD card.

For photography, it gets 12MP Sony IMX378 f/.20 sensor with LED flash, PDAF and 4K recording capabilities, while the front facing camera has 8MP f/2.2 sensor. In terms of connectivity, there's dual-SIM slots, 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC and USB Type-C. It runs Android 7.1 Nougat and BlackBerry promises upgrade to Android Oreo.

The home button has the BlackBerry logo stamped, and houses the fingerprint sensor. It also has a physical Smart Convenience Key and a Locker Mode built into the software to keep your files safe.

The BlackBerry Motion is priced at DH 1,699 in UAE and 1,699 Riyal in Saudi Arabia, which is around $462 and Rs. 30,000. It is now up for pre-order in all leading retailers in the UAE and KSA and will also roll out to select markets later.

Friday, 6 October 2017

This is the BlackBerry Motion aka Krypton


BlackBerry is gearing up to launch a touchscreen phone sans the keyboard called Motion. The phone was formerly known as Krypton, but according to Evan Blass, it will release as Motion. He also shared a photo of the device.

The Android powered Motion will have a home button, with BlackBerry logo stamped, and the home button will likely to house the fingerprint sensor. Also it has unusually large bezel below the screen and at the bottom of the device, there's 3.5mm audio jack, speaker grille and USB Type-C port. On the sides, along with the volume rocker and power button, there's a third button, but its function is not known.

According to reports, BlackBerry Motion will feature Full HD display, Snapdragon 626 processor and 4GB RAM. It is rumored to pack a beefy 4000mAh battery, which is expected to deliver up to 26 hours of run time. This phone will reportedly be BlackBerry's first to boast IP67 water and dust resistance rating.

In a separate leak reliable tipster, Roland Quandt revealed that Black Motion will be launched in the U.S and carried by major carriers including AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. It will also release in China, and other select markets with dual-SIM slots.

BlackBerry is no longer making phones, instead focusing on software and security, while the manufacturing and distribution duty is handled by TCL.

BlackBerry's last major release was Key One, which had a phyical keyboard.

Monday, 11 September 2017

No Nougat for BlackBerry Priv


The physical keyboard toting 'Priv' was BlackBerry's first device to run Google's Android operating system. It was announced in the year 2015 running Lollipop, but last year it was updated to Marshmallow. Unfortunately Marshmallow will be the last major OS upgrade for the device.

BlackBerry has confirmed that Priv will not get not get Android Nougat update, and will remain on Marshmallow until EOL (end of life) status. However, the company promises to push various security patches in the future. The confirmation comes from General Manager of BlackBerry Mobility Solutions, Alex Thurber

As for the DTEK line-up (DTEK 50 & DTEK 60) which shipped with Android Marshmallow, BlackBerry is still mum about the Nougat update. But it seems pretty unlikely they will be updated to Nougat, given that they are mid-rangers and not that popular. 

On the bright side, the KEYOne, which shipped with Android Nougat is confirmed to get Android Oreo at some point. 

Via

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

BlackBerry KEYone launched in India for Rs. 39,990


BlackBerry has officially launched the QWETY-keyboard toting KEYone in India. It has been priced at Rs. 39,990, and will be available for purchase exclusively on Amazon India starting August 8.

While globally, TCL has exclusive rights to manufacture and sell BlackBerry devices, in India, these duties will be handled by Opteimus Infracom and will be its licensing partner.

The Indian version of BlackBerry KEYOne is getting few tweaks. It will be offered with 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage, instead of the usual 3GB RAM/32GB storage available in other countries. 

Also it comes in an all-Black color, instead of Black w/ Silver, and second it supports dual-SIMs. Specifically, its an hybrid dual SIM slot, which means you can either use two SIMs or a SIM and microSD card.

The KEYone boasts BlackBerry's iconic  physical keyboard. The keyboard button's are backlit and responds to touch gestures as well. It also includes 52 customizable shortcuts, and the fingerprint sensor is hidden inside the spacebar.

Coming to the other specs, the BlackBerry KeyOne features 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixels IPS display with 3:2 aspect ratio and is powered by Snapdragon 625 chip.

It comes with 12MP Sony IMX378 rear camera (w/ f/2.0 aperture, dual-tone LED flash, 4K video recording & PDAF), 8MP f/2.2 front camera and runs Android 7.1 Nougat. It also comes with pre-loaded with BlackBerry apps like keyboard, Hub and DTEK. Other specs include 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11ac, NFC and USB 3.1 Type-C port. A 3505mAh battery runs the show.

Saturday, 29 July 2017

BlackBerry KEYone India launch set for August 1


BlackBerry's QWERTY keyboard toting KEYone is all set to arrive in India. The company will make the official announcement at an event in New Delhi on August 1, and reveal the pricing and availability details.

The BlackBerry KEYone was introduced earlier this year at MWC 2017, and is said to be  last BlackBerry smartphone designed and engineered in-house. It boasts BlackBerry's iconic  physical keyboard. The keyboard button's are backlit and responds to touch gestures as well. It also includes 52 customizable shortcuts, and the fingerprint sensor is hidden inside the spacebar.


Coming to the specs, the BlackBerry KeyOne features 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixels IPS display with 3:2 aspect ratio and is powered by Snapdragon 625 chip with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. 

It comes with 12MP Sony IMX378 rear camera, 8MP front camera and runs Android 7.1 Nougat. It also comes with pre-loaded with BlackBerry apps like keyboard, Hub and DTEK. Other specs include 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11ac, NFC and USB 3.1 Type-C port. A 3505mAh battery runs the show.

Thursday, 27 April 2017

BlackBerry KeyOne lands in the US and Canada on May 31


After a long wait and slight delay, BlackBerry and TCL have finally revealed the launch date for the physical keyboard toting BlackBerry KeyOne for the US and Canada markets.

The BlackBerry KeyOne pre-orders will begin from May 18 in US and Canada, and will go on sale starting May 31. In the US, the KeyOne will carry a price tag of $549 (Rs. 35,000) for the unlocked variant and will work on both CDMA and GSM networks. In Canada, it will be available on a two-year term contract starting at $199 CAD (Rs. 9,400) via Bell, Bell MTS, Rogers, SaskTel and Telus Business.

To recap, the BlackBerry KeyOne was first shown off at CES 2017, and was officially announced at MWC 2017, last month. The main highlight of the KeyOne is its iconic physical keyboard. The keyboard button's are backlit and responds to touch gestures as well. It also includes 52 customizable shortcuts, and the fingerprint sensor is hidden inside the spacebar.

Coming to the specs, the BlackBerry KeyOne features 4.5-inch 1620 x 1080 pixels IPS display with 3:2 aspect ratio and is powered by Snapdragon 625 chip with 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. It comes with 12MP Sony IMX378 rear camera, 8MP front camera and runs Android 7.1 Nougat. It also comes with pre-loaded with BlackBerry apps like keyboard, Hub and DTEK. Other specs include 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11ac, NFC and USB Type-C port.

The KeyOne is said to be the last BlackBerry smartphone designed and engineered in-house, and was manufactured in partnership with TCL. Last year, BlackBerry also signed a long-term with TCL to give it exclusive rights to design, build and sell BlackBerry-branded smartphone globally except a few Asian countries including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Currently, there is no word, when BlackBerry KeyOne launches in India. 

Via

Thursday, 9 March 2017

BlackBerry Aurora goes official in Indonesia, company's first dual-SIM phone


BB Merah Putih, which holds the brand licensing agreement to manufacture, market and sell BlackBerry-branded devices in Indonesia has officially announced the BlackBerry Aurora. 

The Aurora is not only the first BlackBerry-branded device to ever be manufactured in Indonesia, but it is the first BlackBerry device in the world to be equipped with dual-SIM functionality.

It is a budget smartphone with mid-range specs running Android Nougat and comes with Hub productivity suite and BlackBerry DTEK privacy app. BlackBerry says that it will deliver regular in-market security updates to the Aurora.

Coming to the specs, the BlackBerry Aurora features 5.5-inch HD display and is powered by 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425 processor with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, which can be expanded via microSD card. For photography its gets 13MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. It supports 4G LTE and is fueled by 3000mAh battery, which promises over 20 hours of mixed usage or up to 30 hours standby time.

Measuring 152 x 76.8 x 8.5mm and weighing in at 178g, the Aurora comes in Black, Silver and Gold hues.

The BlackBerry Aurora is priced at IDR 3,499,000 ($260 | Rs. 17,500) and is currently up for pre-order at various online e-commerce portals in Indonesia.

Source | Via

Thursday, 2 March 2017

BlackBerry Aurora (BBC100-1) found listed online on Lazada Indonesia for pre-order


BlackBerry officially announced the KEYone, its latest Android smartphone flaunting the iconic keyboard at MWC 2017. Now the company is all set to announce a new smartphone.

Just yesterday live images of a mid-range budget BlackBerry smartphone codenamed BBC100-1 hit the interwebs. Now Southeast Asia's leading e-commerce portal Lazada's Indonesia website has listed the device as BlackBerry Aurora and posted a render of the device, along with the specs and price tag.

Even though BlackBerry Aurora is yet to be announced the handset is up for pre-order on the website. It carries a price tag of RP 34,99,000 ($260 | Rs. 17,500) and is available with Gold, Silver and Black color options. The shipping data is mentioned as March 3, but this information is yet to be confirmed by BlackBerry. Unfortunately the specs have not been listed.

In line with previous report, according to the listing, the BlackBerry Aurora (BBC100-1) is expected to feature 5.5-inch HD display, Snapdragon 425 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB expandable storage, 13MP/8MP cameras, 4G LTE and 3000mAh battery. It will run Android Nougat, and listing confirms dual-SIM support on the device, meaning Aurora will the be BlackBerry's first smartphone to house dual-SIM slots.

The BlackBerry Aurora will be exclusive to the Indonesia market and will be built by Indonesia based PT BB Merah Putih.

Source | Via

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

BlackBerry BBC1001-1 Android mid-range phone leaked in live photos


The BlackBerry KEYone was officially unveiled over the weekend at MWC in Barcelona. The phone is said to be the last proper BlackBerry smartphone designed and engineered by BlackBerry, as it flaunts the iconic QWERT keyboard, and is manufactured by TCL.

Now it appears that a new mid-range BlackBerry phone is in the works codenamed BBC100-1. The device was first spotted on Indonesia regulator's website called POSTEL, and now, we get the first look of the device, thanks to leaked live image courtesy of CrackBerry.

As seen in the image the BlackBerry BBC1001-1 sports a new design. The company's previous smartphone sported metal and glass design, but the BBC100-1 sports a grey colored metal body, which houses the rear camera/LED flash setup on top, a large BlackBerry logo on the middle, and a speaker grille at the bottom. The phone will not have fingerprint scanner.

The unannounced BlackBerry is expected to feature 5.5-inch HD display, Snapdragon 425 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage,13MP/5MP cameras and 3000mAh battery. It will run Android Nougat and is said to be BlackBerry's first smartphone to house dual-SIM slots.

The BBC100-1 is said to be made exclusive for Indonesia, where BlackBerry phones still have a fair amount of market share. It will reportedly be the first product of BlackBerry-PT BB Merah Putih deal, (same as BlackBerry/TCL and BlackBerry/Optiemus) under which the latter has exclusive rights to make and sell BlackBerry-branded devices in Indonesia.

Saturday, 25 February 2017

BlackBerry Mercury with physical keyboard goes official as KEYone


At  CES last month, BlackBerry gave a glimpse of its latest Android smartphone codenamed Mercury, and told that they will reveal more details at MWC. 

Now at MWC 2017, Barcelona, BlackBerry has officially given the Mercury a name, and its called KEYone. The new smartphone comes courtesy of TCL, which has exclusive rights over BlackBerry Brand. The KEYone is the last proper BlackBerry smartphone as it is designed by BlackBerry, and going forward, TCL will be responsible to manufacture and distribute BlackBerry branded smartphones, while BlackBerry will focus on software and security solution.

The main highlight of BlackBerry KEYone is its iconic QWERTY keyboard below the display. The buttons are backlit, and there's a feature called flick typing and the keypad responds to touch gestures as well. The keyboard also includes 52 customizable shortcuts and the fingerprint sensor is hidden inside the spacebar.

The BlackBerry KEYone features 4.5-inch Full HD (1620 x 1080 pixels) display and is powered by Snapdragon 625 processor, paired with Adreno 506 GPU and 3GB RAM. On-board storage is 32GB, which can be expanded via microSD card.

For photography, there's 12MP Sony IMX378 rear camera (w/ dual-tone LED flash, PDAF and 4K video recording), the same camera seen on Google's Pixel device. On the front there's 8MP f/2.2 camera for selfies and video recording.

Connectivity options include 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, NFC and USB 3.1 Type-C port. It runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat and BlackBerry promises to push the latest security updates when available. The phone also comes pre-loaded with DTEK security monitoring app and BlackBerry Hub. 

A 3505mAh battery runs the show that supports  Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging, that can charge the phone up to 50 percent in just 36 minutes.

The BlackBerry KEYone is priced at $549 (Rs. 36,600) / 599 Euros / 499 GBP in the U.S, Europe and UK respectively and will be available globally starting from April in a single Black hue.

Monday, 6 February 2017

Optiemus to make and sell BlackBerry smartphones in India


BlackBerry is no more making smartphones, instead, the Canadian company gave rights to TCL the license to manufacture and sell all BlackBerry branded smartphones globally, except for select Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Now BlackBerry has announced its partnership with Indian telecom enterprise Optiemus Infracom for an agreement to license BlackBerry software and services for manufacturing BlackBerry branded Android smartphones in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Under the terms of the agreement, BlackBerry will license its security software and services suite, as well as related brand assets to to Optiemus Infracom.

Moreover, Optiemus will also design, manufacture, sell, promote and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded smartphones. BlackBerry on the other hand will control and develop its security and software for the smartphones.

Optiemus is a distributor of mobile phones and accessories, and it has been the distributor of BlackBerry smartphones in India since November last year for distribution and sale of DTEK50 and DTEK60 smartphone.

As for Indonesia, BlackBerry's largest handset market, the company has signed a similar deal with BB Merah Putih back in September last year, giving the company rights to make and sell BlackBerry devices in that country. 

The announcement comes just ahead of MWC 2017, where, TCL-BlackBerry will launch BlackBerry Mercury smartphone that comes with the brand's signature QWERTY keyboard. Mercury is said to be designed and engineered by BlackBerry, but TCL is its manufacturer. 

Source

Friday, 27 January 2017

BlackBerry's first smartphone with dual-SIM slots coming soon


The BlackBerry Mercury with QWERTY keyboard will finally make its debut at MWC next month. However, now it appears that, the company is also reportedly working on a new mid-range device codenamed BBC100-1.

The device was first spotted on an Indonesian regulator's website called POSTEL and could be the first smartphone from BlackBerry with dual-SIM support.

The possible specs of BBC100-1 are also out, courtesy of Roland Quandt. As per the source, the BBC100-1 will feature 5.5-inch HD display, 1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, microSD card slot, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and 3000mAh battery. The Android version is not mentioned, but it could ship with Android Nougat.

The BBC100-1 could be a product of BlackBerry-PT BB Merah Putih deal (according to POSTEL), under which the latter has exclusive rights to make and sell BlackBerry-branded devices in Indonesia. 

Currently, its unclear when BBC100-1 will be unveiled, but with MWC just around corner, it is expected the device to be announced at the event. 

Source

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

BlackBerry Mercury with physical QWERTY to launch on February 25


Following months of speculations, TCL officially confirmed the existence of a new BlackBerry smartphone with QWERTY keyboard codenamed Mercury at CES 2017 without revealing the real name, price and availability. However the company revealed that the device will launch at MWC.

Now TCL has announced that BlackBerry Mercury will make its official debut on February 25, two days before MWC kicks off.

The BlackBerry Mercury will be the last smartphone designed and engineered in-house, but it is manufactured by TCL. The confirmed features of BlackBerry Mercury include unibody metal design, dimpled soft touch back, Android 7.0 Nougat, curved glass display, USB Type-C port, and fingerprint sensor embedded inside the space bar of the QWERTY keyboard.

As for the other specs, BlackBerry Mercury will reportedly feature 4.5-inch display carring 1080 x 1620px resolution, octa-core Snapdragon 625 chip, 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 18MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3400mAh battery.

We should know everything including the final product, marketing name, specifications, pricing and availability by the end of next month. 

Via

Thursday, 5 January 2017

BlackBerry Mercury QWERTY Android phone to launch at MWC 2017


TCL, the company that has exclusive rights to sell and market BlackBerry devices has announced the BlackBerry Mercury at CES 2017. Unfortunately the specs, price and availability details were not revealed. However TCL did give a sneak peak of the phone and a couple of websites (Android Central) got a chance to get hands-on with the BlackBerry Mercury.

The BlackBerry Mercury brings back the iconic QWERTY keyboard, reminiscent of BlackBerry's classis design, and includes capacitive gesture functionality. The fingerprint sensor is baked in it Space bar, which is first for smartphones. It also features a headphone jack, USB Type-C port, two speaker grilles and boots Android Nougat out of the box.



There is no word on specs, but Mercury is expected to come with 4.5-inch display, Snapdragon 625 processor, 4GB RAM,  32GB internal storage, 18MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3400mAh battery.

Also Note that Mercury is the code-name of the phone and the official name is not known. TCL says that it will reveal more information about BlackBerry Mercury at MWC 2017 which kicks off February 27.

Friday, 30 December 2016

BlackBerry Mercury leaked screenshot confirms Android Nougat


TCL will introduce new BlackBerry phones at CES 2017, and one of them reportedly code-named Mercury has been subject of many leaks. The phone was spotted on Geekbench and also a handful of live images hit the interweb as well, revealing the signature QWERTY keyboard, which have been highlight of BlackBerry smartphones for years.

Recently, alleged renders showing Mercury with QWERTY keyboard surfaced online, which revealed that the fingerprint sensor will be integrated into the space bar of the QWERTY keyboard. There's also no on-screen navigation button, indicating that Mercury will have hardware home, back and recent buttons built into the keyboard.



Now Roland Quandt has shared a screenshot of the Mercury carrying model number BBB100. The screenshot confirms that the phone will run Android Nougat. Furthermore Mercury will have a screen resolution of 1620 x 1080 pixels and 420ppi pixel density. 



This gives the display a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the usual 16:9 found on phones without keyboard. Moreover, with pixel density of 420ppi, the phone could have a screen size of 4.6-inch. He also mentions that Mercury will be powered by Snapdragon 625 processor and will be available in Indonesia soon. It will also be sold by Verizon in the U.S.

According to earlier reports, BlackBerry Mercury, will launch as DTEK70 and feature 3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, 18MP/8MP camera and a 3400mAh battery. As mentioned earlier the phone is expected to be unveiled at CES in January. 

Via | Source

Friday, 23 December 2016

TCL will unveil new BlackBerry smartphones at CES 2017


BlackBerry is not making smartphones anymore, but that does not mean it has bowed out of smartphone market. Instead the former Canadian smartphone giant has tied up with TCL to sell BlackBerry branded Android smartphone.

Now TCL has announced that it will launch new BlackBerry branded devices at CES 2017, which will be held between January 5 and January 8, 2017 in Las Vegas. 

According to TCL it will "unveil an evolutionary first in the mobile industry, which will include the addition of the new BlackBerry brand of smartphones, complimenting the company's current portfolio". The company further said that "We’ll unveil more news at CES around our plans, showcasing the legacy of the BlackBerry smartphone brand, while also giving a glimpse into what new BlackBerry smartphones will offer as part of our bold new brand portfolio within TCT. These are just the building blocks of our new growth strategy, with additional announcements to come in 2017." 

TCL has already launched two BlackBerry branded smartphones, the mid-range DTEK 50 and the flagship DTEK 60, which are rebranded version of Alcatel Idol 4 and Idol 4s. Both were full touch screen smartphones.

However, there are no details regarding the new devices, but previously BlackBerry had confirmed that it is working on a smartphone which sports the company's iconic QWERTY keyboard, similar to BlackBerry Classic or BlackBerry Passport. Based on rumors and leaks so far, the smartphone code-named Mercury will reportedly feature 4.5-inch Full HD display with 3:2 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB inbuilt storage, 18MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, fingerprint scanner, 3400mAh battery and Android Nougat.

Friday, 16 December 2016

TCL will make and sell BlackBerry-branded smartphones from now on


BlackBerry back in September announced that it would stop manufacturing smartphones, instead rely on third-party manufacturers to make its phones. BlackBerry will provide its brand name and software for the same.

The Canadian company has already launched two Android phones called DTEK50 and DTEK60 in partnership with China's TCL. Now BlackBerry has officially announced that it has signed a deal with TCL to give it exclusive rights to make and sell BlackBerry-branded smartphone globally. TCL also makes Alcatel-branded mobile devices.

Under the deal, TCL will design, manufacture, sell and provide customer support for upcoming BlackBerry-branded phones, while BlackBerry on the other hand will be controlling the software and developing security solutions for these phones.

TCL will manufacture and sell BlackBerry smartphones in all regions except India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia, which are BlackBerry's largest smartphone markets. 

For Indonesia market, BlackBerry has signed a similar deal with BB Merah Putih in September to make and sell BlackBerry-branded phones in that country, with BlackBerry's Android software and applications. BlackBerry is also working on a deal with an Indian company to bring BlackBerry phones to the country, but not much is known about this. 

Via

Monday, 5 December 2016

BlackBerry Mercury with physical keyboard surfaces in live images


BlackBerry is no more making smartphone. After it launched its first Android smartphone dubbed Priv, the company outsourced the manufacturing of the DTEK50 and DTEK 60 to TCL.

That said, BlackBerry CEO John Chen last month revealed that the company is working on a new in-house smartphone that would sport its signature QWERTY keyboard. A previous report had suggested that this phone is code-named Mercury.

Now live images of Mercury has leaked online, which is in line with the renders that surfaced earlier this year. As seen in the photo, BlackBerry Mercury carries the same form factor as its previous iconic smartphones. We can also see the QWETY keypad below the touchscreen along with capacitive buttons. Moreover, the phone appears to have a metal design and is running almost stock Android backed by BlackBerry's software like Hub.

According to earlier reports, the BlackBerry Mercury will have 4.5-inch Full HD touch screen display with 3:2 aspect ratio, octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 18MP rear camera, 8MP front camera and 3400mAh battery. It will ship with Android Nougat and is expected to launch in Q1 2017. 

Via