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BlackBerry KEYone lands in SA

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 04 Aug 2017
The BlackBerry KEYone.
The BlackBerry KEYone.

BlackBerry smartphones are still around and have had new life set into them by TCL Communication and the Android operating system. The latest device, the BlackBerry KEYone, is available for pre-order today in SA.

"With our new Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone, we've built a highly reliable and durable device with a strong display that packs enough battery life to get you through a busy day," says Bob El-Hawary, EMEA head of carrier operations for BlackBerry Mobile, a business unit within TCL Communication.

The device is aimed at the 'modern professional' and is the first smartphone announced under BlackBerry's new brand and device-licensing strategy. TCL unveiled the device at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, earlier this year.

The KEYone will feature the BlackBerry Hub unified messaging inbox, as well as the group of Google-powered apps, preloaded on the smartphone.

One of the main features is the physical keyboard, which BlackBerry devices are known to still include, even though it also features a touch-screen. The keyboard responds to gestures and each key can be programmed to launch different apps.

The handset will be made available next week and has a recommended retail price of R9 649. The smartphone is exclusively available from Vodacom stores from next week.

In September last year, BlackBerry decided to outsource the development and design of its smartphones, as it focuses on software and services. In 2015, BlackBerry said it would do away with its own operating system and instead use the Android OS with a BlackBerry skin.

The company's first Android device was the premium slide-up Priv launched in late 2015. Last year, the company released the DTEK50 and DTEK60, aimed at the mid-range market.

The licences, with TCL, BB Merah Putih and Optiemus Infracom, take over responsibility for ongoing device development, marketing and distribution.

Specifications

Operating system: Android 7.1 Nougat
Display: 4.5-inch
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB with microSD
Rear camera: 12MP
Front camera: 8MP
Battery: 3505 mAh
Weight: 180g

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