New Delhi: BlackBerry has officially confirmed that it is indeed bringing a smartphone that runs the popular Google Android OS, putting to rest rumours and speculations.
Contrary to the earlier speculated moniker BlackBerry Venice, the device will instead be called the BlackBerry Priv. Here is everything we know about BlackBerry’s first Android phone.
Design
Based on the earlier leaks and also confirmed by CEO John Chen in a presentation to a Canadian news outlet, the BlackBerry Priv will come with a QWERTY slider beneath a curved screen. It will further include the 'tap to wake' feature.
The slider keyboard includes biometric sense touch that lets you scroll over a web page or text by simply swiping up or down the keyboard.
The rather elegant looking BlackBerry Priv consists of microSD card slot that rests on the top of the device along with the SIM slot while the volume buttons are placed on the right.
Leaked images further point to a non-removable battery, thanks to the unibody slider design of the smartphone.
Operating System
Running both the Android OS and some standard BlackBerry apps, the phone is expected to have Google Chrome as the default browser. BlackBerry Hub messaging center is expected to be at the center of the phone.
Camera
The smartphone features an 18 megapixel rear camera with OIS, fast focus, and dual LED flash.
Launch
The BlackBerry Priv is expected to be announced ‘late in the calendar year.’
"I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry’s heritage and core mission of protecting our customers’ privacy. Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform," says BlackBerry CEO John Chen.
The company is also planning the release of an updated version of its BlackBerry 10 operating system next month.
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