BlackBerry Leap Hits The UK

BlackBerry has announced the launch of its newest handset, the Leap, in the UK.

The device, first revealed at Mobile World Congress last month, is hailed as an an ‘affordable’, full touchscreen phone targeted at privacy-conscious consumers and businesses.

Customers can now get the device via BlackBerry’s online store or through selected UK carriers now.

Great Leap Forward?

“With an all-touch screen, the BlackBerry Leap rounds out our portfolio of BlackBerry 10 devices, offering an affordable choice to mobile professionals who require a smartphone that safeguards sensitive communications and keeps them productive,” said Ron Louks, BlackBerry’s president of devices and emerging solutions.

The Leap marks an interesting new turn in strategy from BlackBerry, which had been focusing on traditional, keyboard-equipped devices such as the BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport.

Sporting a 5in edge-to-edge HD touchscreen, the Leap will ship with BlackBerry 10.3.1, the latest version of the company’s own-brand OS, which introduces the voice-activated BlackBerry Assistant and BlackBerry Blend, which lets users access messages, emails and notifications from their phone on a tablet or PC.

The new device will also features improved security thanks to built-in encryption, malware protection and remote backup to ease administrator’s security concerns, and has access to both the BlackBerry World and Amazon Appstore for applications.

There’s also 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage which can be expanded via a Micro SD card slot, an 8MP rear facing camera and a 2MP front facing sensor, and a 2800mAh battery which BlackBerry says will provide 25 hours of juice.

The BlackBerry Leap will hit other major markets, including Germany, France, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and India, over the next few weeks.

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