A brand new BlackBerry phone is coming in 2021, it will be 5G-capable, and sure – it is going to have a bodily keyboard.
A brand new firm has licensed the BlackBerry identify after TCL dropped it in early 2020. This seemingly new participant within the phones world, OnwardMobility, introduced it’s producing a brand new handset with the storied BlackBerry identity.
OnwardMobility is working with Foxconn subsidiary FIH Cell Restricted to get the phones out within the first half of 2021 to North American and European markets. Whether or not the phone will attain shopper markets, nevertheless, is unclear, because the press launch saying the BlackBerry 5G phone posits it as an enterprise answer for companies that want ‘a safe, feature-rich 5G-ready phone that enhances productiveness.’
“BlackBerry smartphones are recognized for safeguarding communications, privateness, and data,” OnwardMobility CEO Peter Franklin stated within the press launch. “That is an unbelievable alternative for OnwardMobility to convey next-generation 5G gadgets to market with the backing of BlackBerry and FIH Cell.”
OnwardMobility doesn’t list some other merchandise on its web site, solely referring to ‘future BlackBerry 5G smartphones.’ It is about page claims the corporate was created to ship safe cell machine options to enterprise, authorities and enterprise – so we’re unsure if followers of the model will be capable of choosing up one of many subsequent BlackBerry phones at their native retailer, although the announcement video (embedded above) does counsel will probably be obtainable for customers.
It is also unclear if, or when, it is coming to different areas.
“Greater than half of the worldwide inhabitants personal smartphones immediately, so the market is big,” OnwardMobility CEO Peter Franklin stated. “What’s been lacking, nevertheless, is the ultra-secure and productivity-centric smartphone that may handle the wants of enterprise customers, authorities customers and security-conscious customers – and that’s the hole we anticipate to fill.”
BlackBerry: once a safe business phone, always a safe business phone?
Analysis In Movement’s BlackBerry phones have been among the first true smartphones to develop into standard amongst customers, however they first received standard amid company purchasers purchasing for gadgets that may safeguard information stored and despatched by staff.
Whereas the BlackBerry hemorrhaged market share to correct smartphones following the iPhone and Android platforms, it remained a trusted enterprise machine for years. OnwardMobility is clearly tapping into that legacy of company belief – and productiveness since they’ve already dedicated to together with a bodily keyboard on the 2021 machine.
TCL’s BlackBerry phones had bodily keyboards, too, however weren’t profitable sufficient for the phones business underdog to maintain the license. In short: individuals could also be nostalgic for the times of bodily keyboards, however not sufficient to exit of their approach to purchase them in massive numbers.
Phones have modified since BlackBerry gadgets reigned, and the present tall, slim format have meant that keyboards shoved to the underside, like TCL’s BlackBerry Key2, aren’t terribly snug to kind on. We’ll see if OnwardMobility’s phone finally ends up with a special design because it will get nearer to its launch window within the first half of 2021.