BlackBerry launches Android powered smartphone in India at Rs 62,990

BlackBerry, the Canadian enterprise solution provider and smartphone maker, has launched its first ever Android OS powered by smartphone, Priv, in India, and priced it at Rs 62,990.

In terms of specifications, the smartphone has a 5.4-inch WQHD display with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor paired with 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB onboard storage and a microSD card for expandable memory, display has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels with a density of 540 dpi.

Priv can be integrated with the EMM solution, BES 12, which offers cross-platform management of Priv and other devices; providing end security solution and secure collaboration applications for business users.

The Priv has perhaps been one of the riskiest ventures yet undertaken by BlackBerry, and will be crucial to the survival of the company and its future operations.

BlackBerry moving completely to Android in 2016

BlackBerry CEO John Chen confirmed in an interview at CES that all BlackBerry smartphones launched this year will run Google’s operating system.

It’s bittersweet news for die-hard BlackBerry fans, a shrinking, but fiercely loyal group. Yes, BlackBerry will continue to exist, but won’t offer any phones running on its own BlackBerry 10 software. Still, future Android BlackBerry devices means more choice besides the usual mix of Samsung, LG or HTC Android phones.

Chen refused to comment on the availability and details of the upcoming devices.

ZTE working on a new phone with ex-BlackBerry folk

Think BlackBerry phones are KO’d? We might see a resurrection of BlackBerry’s style in ZTE’s next phone, as it’s being designed by a team of ex-BB staffers.

ZTE’s mobile chief exec Adam Zeng Xuezhong just teased the new phone at an analyst conference in Shanghai.

“We will soon launch a product which I can call ‘A Product’ today but you will see it coming out soon,” said Zeng Xuezhong in a hype-building final note to the otherwise business-y presentation.

This mystery BlackBerry-infused creation is being designed at a ZTE North American outpost, likely with the aim of helping to push the company’s sales and brand recognition into the next league in the West.

Just over a year ago in June 2014 it was revealed that ZTE had attracted around 20 ex-BlackBerry staff into its ranks, with who-knows how many having joined since then.

ZTE has made plenty of higher-end phones to date as part of its Nubia series, but outside of European trade shows we’ve not seen them get close to our shelves. They are sold mostly in China.

But what kind of BlackBerry DNA could ZTE be looking to inject into its next phone? BlackBerry’s traditional strong suits are great physical keyboards and mobile security. Are we about to see ZTE aim for execs with a serious business phone?

We hope not, but with ZTE top brass already talking about the phone, it can’t be too long until we get to hear the whole story.