BlackBerry ends support for Priv

Keeping in line with the company’s two-year support policy, BlackBerry is ending its support for the Priv. This means the monthly security updates will stop rolling in, except for “critical” vulnerabilities that might need work. The Canadian company also said they will soon be unveiling a trade-up program for existing BlackBerry Priv users and those with BB10 and BBOS devices. The program will include discounts and incentives to purchase a new Keyone or Motion.

According to BlackBerry, support for BB10 and BBOS devices will continue on for at least two years. However, some “ancillary services” will be shut down soon including BlackBerry World app store (December 31, 2019), BlackBerry Travel site (February 2018), and Playbook video calling services (March 2018).

Source: GSMArena

BlackBerry plans to release two more Android smartphones

BlackBerry isn’t ready to give up on the Android market yet. According to its CEO John Chen, they plan on releasing two more Android-powered smartphones: one with a physical keyboard and another with a full touchscreen. Chen told Abu Dhabi’s The National that this would be different from the Priv will be mid-range devices. Chen admitted to The National that releasing the Priv was a misstep. “The fact that we came out with a high end phone [as our first Android device] was probably not as wise as it should have been.” It wasn’t well received by even the company’s enterprise customers who found the $700 USD price tag a bit too steep.

The new BlackBerry devices are rumored to be code-named Rome and the Hamburg and will be pushing for a sub-$500 price off-contract. It’ll be marketed as the only truly secure Android devices.

Source: The Verge

Video: See how BlackBerry's PRIV gets built

BlackBerry PRIV is possibly the most intriguing Android device in the market right now and has apparently been selling out because people really dig the combination of Android ecosystem and apps as well as security and privacy plus the convenience of a QWERTY keyboard. The video above shows a PRIV being put together and it is interesting to see all the elements and components that make it into this rather slim device.

Source: BlackBerry via YouTube

Google: BlackBerry PRIV was Canada's top tech trending topic for 2015

BlackBerry's first Android smartphone, the BlackBerry PRIV beat out the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X as per Google's Top Trending technology searches for 2015. A comeback story of sorts for Canadian smartphone innovator BlackBerry, the PRIV merged great hardware, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and security with the expanse of Android apps and services. The device earned mostly positive reviews.

Google’s 15th annual Year in Search analyzed the trillions of searches that took place globally throughout the year to determine the technology terms that struck a chord with Canadians and the BlackBerry PRIV beat out Apple Watch, iPhone 6 Plus, and even Windows 10. For the complete Canadian lists click here.