BlackBerry’s New Android Phone Wil Be Called The ‘Priv’

BlackBerry’s first Android-powered smartphone may have finally gotten an official name, according to reports that have dubbed the device the ‘BlackBerry Priv’.

Notorious mobile leakster Evan Blass, better known as @evleaks, posted an official-looking photo (see below) of the device online last night, as well as revealing the new name, which we’ll assume is a nod to the device’s security and privacy features.

There’s still no news on an official release date, but if the pictures are true, then the Priv will feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that will look to replicate the classic feel of early BlackBerry devices.

Other photos from tech site N4BB (see main image) also show Android in operation, with all the usual home screen icons on display, raising speculation that the Priv could be one of the first mobile devices to support Android Marshmallow, Google’s last version of its operating system.

Coming soon

Rumours surrounding BlackBerry’s next device have increased recently after it snapped up two Android-related domain names – ‘AndroidSecured.com’ and ‘AndroidSecured.net’, and told reporters that, “Android is an important part of our cross-platform enterprise software strategy.”

Such a move would also give the company more access to app developers, with developers eschewing BlackBerry’s platforms for Android and iOS. BlackBerry 10 does have access to Android apps on the Amazon Appstore, but the number of native apps falls short compared to competing platforms.

The company’s own BlackBerry 10 operating system also allows users to run Android applications, but only the limited selection available on Amazon’s App Store. BlackBerry’s BES12 device management system allows the management of Android, iOS and Windows devices along with BlackBerry phones.

BlackBerry has maintained that its own operating system offers better security and enterprise management features than Android or Apple’s iOS, and recently said that it, “remain(s) ‎committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched.”

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