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Home / News / BlackBerry will only release Android phones in 2016

BlackBerry will only release Android phones in 2016

Time for fans to pour one out for BlackBerry OS 10?

The BlackBerry Priv is a revolutionary phone for the ailing company, and not because of the slider design or the high-end specs: it’s because the Priv is the first BlackBerry to run Android rather than its own homegrown operating system.

And that move must really be paying dividends for BlackBerry, because CEO John Chen tells CNET that the company will only release Android-based devices in 2016. Chen says the company has one phone definitely coming out this year – maybe the leaked Vienna? – and possibly a second, but in any case, neither will launch with BlackBerry OS 10 installed.

The BlackBerry Classic and Passport will continue to be sold, and Chen says the company is trying to get national security certification for BlackBerry OS 10 so those devices can have more value to governmental agencies and employees. However, BlackBerry isn’t working on any new non-Android devices in the short term.

According to CNET, this will be an especially crucial year for BlackBerry’s continued viability in the hardware market. If the Priv and other upcoming phones don’t gain a solid foothold in the increasingly competitive marketplace, then BlackBerry could refocus on security software and working with other hardware makers to support their products.

That would be a grim state of affairs for the former giant, but the Priv is a very solid start for its Android ambitions: we praised the recent device for its multitasking capabilities, Android tweaks, and great 2K display, although the high price and slightly creaky build are off-putting.

BlackBerry plans to expand worldwide availability for the Priv soon, including offering the phone through Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint in the States once AT&T’s exclusivity window ends.

[Source: CNET]

Read MoreBlackBerry Priv review

Profile image of Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward Freelance Writer

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.

Areas of expertise

Video games, gadgets, apps, smart home

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