Despite numerous “deaths,” BlackBerry will be back in the smartphone scene. A U.S. startup named OnwardMobility has become the iconic brand’s new licensor and promises to launch a 5G-enabled BlackBerry device with a physical QWERTY keyboard in the first half of 2021. And yes, it will run Android.
The teaser seen on OnwardMobility’s website
Beyond that and other than it will support 5G and physical input, little else about the phone is known. It will be designed in-house, as opposed to adopting one of BlackBerry or TCL’s previous designs, so we do not know if the functionality we saw on the last BlackBerries, such as the ability to swipe on the keyboard to make typing faster, will make it to the new model.
OnwardMobility will work together with BlackBerry (the software company) and FIH Mobile Limited, a subsidiary of Foxconn Technology Group, to design and manufacture the device, which will be aimed at enterprise and government customers in North America and Europe.
Check out our CEO @TechGuyPeter talking about our agreements with #BlackBerry and #FIHMobile to deliver a new #5G BlackBerry #Android #smartphone with a #keyboard https://t.co/VU18sTofTx pic.twitter.com/MB1r2zXZkb
— OnwardMobility (@_OnwardMobility) August 19, 2020
OnwardMobility founder and CEO Peter Franklin talks about their partnership with BlackBerry and FIH Mobile Limited
On the software side, the upcoming BlackBerry phone will focus on security, which has long been a key feature for the brand and its devices. Speaking of, BlackBerry executive chairman and CEO John Chen said this about OnwardMobility’s latest acquisition:
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“BlackBerry is thrilled OnwardMobility will deliver a BlackBerry 5G smartphone device with physical keyboard, leveraging our high standards of trust and security synonymous with our brand. We are excited that customers will experience the enterprise and government-level security and mobile productivity the new BlackBerry 5G smartphone will offer.”
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