Blackberry on Monday has announced that it is gearing up to release a new smartphone which will be powered by Android. Called the "Priv," a short word for privacy, the company's new Android device will be released this coming November.
The news comes after the company has confirmed last week the leaked photos of what appears to be Blackberry's new Android phone. It was said that "Priv," a slider phone, is the company's latest device that features a very stable secure system using Google Android, a report from iDigital Times said.
"Yesterday we awoke to the news that the name of our newest smartphone was leaked to the public prior to its official launch later this year. At a time when your personal privacy is increasingly compromised, we wanted you to know that you are not alone. We found this breach of privacy extraordinary, and at the same time the best demonstration as to why BlackBerry's products, technology and brand are essential to the world. In recognition of our long history of valuing our customers' privacy we've named our next generation phone Priv, a name that has tremendous value for everyone worldwide," Blackberry said in a statement posted on its website.
iDigital Times reports that the company has yet to announce the official release date of "Priv." Even the specs, features and other details about the upcoming smartphone are very limited. However, rumors suggest that "Priv" will likely feature a new QWERTY keyboard that slides out from behind the device's screen. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 808 chip with 3 GB of RAM, and its camera will be 18 MP. It will also feature a touchscreen display of 5.4 inches.
Three major telecommunication companies are expected to be the official carriers of Blackberry Priv, namely: Sprint, Verizon and AT&T.
"The Priv has been leaking all over the Internet, where it was formerly known as the 'BlackBerry Venice.' The device has Blackberry's famous hardware keyboard, which slides out vertically from the bottom of the device. Leaked images, mostly from Evan Blass, shows a device that runs a mostly stock flavor of Android with the Google Play Store and associated Google Apps. Blackberry is, of course, packing in a few apps and customizations of its own," Ars Technica noted.
