BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) has released an announcement stating that PRIV will be available for pre-order in Hong Kong.
There has been a lot of hype around the release of the device especially because it is the first Blackberry phone to run purely on Android OS. Blackberry and tech enthusiast are eagerly waiting to see how the device will perform against rival products as well as how the company has integrated its acclaimed security, privacy and productivity features with Android. It is also important to see how PRIV will handle apps from the Play Store.
The design aspects of Blackberry’s new offering are also expected to have Blackberry’s trademark features that the company has been known to involve keen attention. Starting with the keypad, PRIV will host a slide out physical qwerty keypad. Some of the external design features include a 5.4-inch dual-curved screen and an 18-megapixel camera.
Some of the other features revealed include a touch keypad to complement the physical keypad and a 3410mAh battery that is expected to last long while going through full usage. The device is currently available for pre-order through various companies such as China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited, 3 Hong Kong, SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited and CSL Mobile Limited. Blackberry also announced that PRIV will be priced at around HK$6,488.
The phone will also be available through other authorized distributors in Japan such as Chung Yuen Electrical Co, Ltd, Broadway Photo Supply Ltd and Blackberry’s distributor, Qool International Ltd. A few other companies will also receive licenses to distribute the device. Blackberry expects the device to appeal to buyers especially because of a combination of its services with Android Lollipop and a physical keyboard.
Blackberry had announced that the device will be priced at $699 once it is launched. Critics feel that the device is a bit too pricey, but it might be well worth the amount considering that the firm is throwing in premium features for the device. Sources claim that the device will be available for sale by major carriers in the US not long after it is launched. The chances are that the company will take advantage of the festive season to distribute the device.
