BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) recently added FM radio feature in its smartphones. The latest OS update 10.2.1 has many enhancements and refinements that will make the applications faster and easier, according to the company. Users of BlackBerry Z30, Q10 or Q5 can listen the FM radio and their local stations without a network connection.
Other updates included are BlackBerry Hub custom pinch gestures, SMS and email groups, actionable lock screen notifications, offline browser reading mode, a device and battery monitor, and automatic software updates, among other features. The Canadian company has posted a complete list of OS updates on its website. Latest OS upgrade will be available in U.S., Europe, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America in a full range of BB10 smartphones.
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) tried to gain lost glory through OS 10 devices but even after launching a new Operating system, 100,000 plus apps, new features, new phones it could not post any substantial growth. However, now the company has partnered with Foxconn, in a hope to regain the position that it commanded earlier.
A new budget phone coming
BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) will reportedly unveil a budget phone, made in partnership with Foxconn, at the Mobile World Congress 2014. Few weeks back the news surfaced that the Canadian company has entered into a deal with Foxconn to manufacture budget phones.
Terry Gou, chairman of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry said that BlackBerry’s new device, assembled by Foxconn mobile unit will be showcased in the MWC 2014 in Barcelona, a report from Focus Taiwan says.
Last month, BlackBerry said that Foxconn will design the body of the budget phones as a part of the 5-year deal. BlackBerry has delegated hardware designing to Foxconn, whereas for itself, it has kept the software technology.
The contract allows Foxconn to design and market phone in Indonesia, the fourth largest populated country in the world with thin mobile penetration. This would help Foxconn a great deal, in terms of exposure and margin, along with upgrading its role in the mobile device market.
Foxconn assembles the iPhones and has gained the much needed experience by meeting Apple’s tough standards and supply chain. The company has more than 1 million employees that can bring down the price of component that BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) cannot afford.
