If you like to read up on the latest smartphones then you’ll know about the rumors concerning a new Android device from BlackBerry. We’ve seen a few BlackBerry Venice image and video leaks. The device is supposedly slated for release in November and so far, BlackBerry has neither confirmed nor denied that the phone will run in Andoid.
The BlackBerry Venice appears to be a large smartphone with a 5.4-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixel, curved AMOLED display. Slide it up and you reveal a full physical keyboard. It will have a 1.8GHz 64-bit, hexa-core Snapdragon 808 inside with 3GB of RAM. There’s also talk of an 18MP camera with OIS and a 5MP front-facing camera.
We know the phone is real, because BlackBerry showed it off very briefly at MWC back in March, but we don’t know the specs for sure, and back then it appeared to be running BB10. What has really gotten people talking about it is the idea it will run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the gate. This is based on a bunch of further leaks showing Google services and Android apps on the phone alongside BlackBerry services and apps.
There are plenty of reasons to believe the Venice could be BlackBerry’s first official Android smartphone, but we won’t know for sure until the company actually says so. The rumor definitely gathered pace in June after the BlackBerry CEO, John Chen, told CNBC, “We only build secure phones and BlackBerry is the most secure phone so, if I can find a way to secure the Android phone, I will also build that.”
The BlackBerry Venice also looks like it could be the fruit of a closer partnership with Samsung. Samsung CEO, J.K. Shin, told WSJ, “We want to work with BlackBerry and develop this partnership, not acquire the company.” As for BlackBerry moving its services and apps onto Android, we know that’s happening regardless of this phone. A BlackBerry Venice that runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, but with a unique BlackBerry veneer on top, delivering greater security and more BB services, is a definite possibility.
Will BlackBerry abandon the BlackBerry 10 platform? It seems a shame because the company finally got a lot right with BB10 and you can install Android apps on BB10 devices, though the experience isn’t always ideal. But regardless of the merits of BB10, it definitely came too late. According to IDC BlackBerry OS had a 0.3% share of the worldwide smartphone OS market in the first quarter of the year, down from 0.5% in 2014.
Some have suggested that the Venice will come in Android or BB10 versions. That seems like it would just confuse potential buyers. Dual boot isn’t really a viable solution either, it’s not exactly user-friendly and there’s little incentive for Google to agree. If BlackBerry wants success with this handset, then it needs to have some mass market appeal, but adopting Android could definitely be interpreted as throwing in the towel for BB10.
In terms of standing out from the Android crowd that would leave the Venice with BlackBerry’s traditional crown jewel – the physical keyboard.That could actually still be reason enough for a lot of people to buy it. There aren’t a lot of great options if you want a physical keyboard, though the size of the market for them is debatable.
The BlackBerry Venice could well be the first official Android smartphone from BlackBerry ushering in closer integration of BlackBerry services and Android, but we’d surprised if that was retained as an exclusive for the Venice handset. If BlackBerry is going to secure a sizeable slice of the Android pie it will need to do it with software not hardware.
Are you excited by the prospect of a Blackberry running Android? If so, what about it appeals most to you?
Post By: Ukoh Chinedu
The BlackBerry Venice appears to be a large smartphone with a 5.4-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixel, curved AMOLED display. Slide it up and you reveal a full physical keyboard. It will have a 1.8GHz 64-bit, hexa-core Snapdragon 808 inside with 3GB of RAM. There’s also talk of an 18MP camera with OIS and a 5MP front-facing camera.
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We know the phone is real, because BlackBerry showed it off very briefly at MWC back in March, but we don’t know the specs for sure, and back then it appeared to be running BB10. What has really gotten people talking about it is the idea it will run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the gate. This is based on a bunch of further leaks showing Google services and Android apps on the phone alongside BlackBerry services and apps.
There are plenty of reasons to believe the Venice could be BlackBerry’s first official Android smartphone, but we won’t know for sure until the company actually says so. The rumor definitely gathered pace in June after the BlackBerry CEO, John Chen, told CNBC, “We only build secure phones and BlackBerry is the most secure phone so, if I can find a way to secure the Android phone, I will also build that.”
The BlackBerry Venice also looks like it could be the fruit of a closer partnership with Samsung. Samsung CEO, J.K. Shin, told WSJ, “We want to work with BlackBerry and develop this partnership, not acquire the company.” As for BlackBerry moving its services and apps onto Android, we know that’s happening regardless of this phone. A BlackBerry Venice that runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, but with a unique BlackBerry veneer on top, delivering greater security and more BB services, is a definite possibility.
WHAT HAPPENS TO BB10?
Will BlackBerry abandon the BlackBerry 10 platform? It seems a shame because the company finally got a lot right with BB10 and you can install Android apps on BB10 devices, though the experience isn’t always ideal. But regardless of the merits of BB10, it definitely came too late. According to IDC BlackBerry OS had a 0.3% share of the worldwide smartphone OS market in the first quarter of the year, down from 0.5% in 2014.
Some have suggested that the Venice will come in Android or BB10 versions. That seems like it would just confuse potential buyers. Dual boot isn’t really a viable solution either, it’s not exactly user-friendly and there’s little incentive for Google to agree. If BlackBerry wants success with this handset, then it needs to have some mass market appeal, but adopting Android could definitely be interpreted as throwing in the towel for BB10.
WHY BUY THE VENICE?
In terms of standing out from the Android crowd that would leave the Venice with BlackBerry’s traditional crown jewel – the physical keyboard.That could actually still be reason enough for a lot of people to buy it. There aren’t a lot of great options if you want a physical keyboard, though the size of the market for them is debatable.
The BlackBerry Venice could well be the first official Android smartphone from BlackBerry ushering in closer integration of BlackBerry services and Android, but we’d surprised if that was retained as an exclusive for the Venice handset. If BlackBerry is going to secure a sizeable slice of the Android pie it will need to do it with software not hardware.
Are you excited by the prospect of a Blackberry running Android? If so, what about it appeals most to you?
Post By: Ukoh Chinedu
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