BARCELONA, Feb. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TCL
Communication, a leading global smartphone manufacturer, unveiled a
new BlackBerry smartphone to the world -- the BlackBerry
KEYone. This launch represents the first BlackBerry smartphone
released from TCL Communication under a new brand licensing
agreement signed in December 2016
with BlackBerry Limited. Offering users all the great smartphone
features you'd expect -- like great camera, display and design
-- in a distinctly different experience, the KEYone pairs the
best of BlackBerry Limited's software and security with TCL
Communication's commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable
smartphones to customers around the world. The BlackBerry KEYone
will be available globally[i] beginning in April and will be priced
at or under €599 EUR/ £499 GBP/$549
USD.
"Impressively designed to be distinctly different, the
BlackBerry KEYone reimagines how we communicate by offering
unmatched productivity and the world's most secure Android
smartphone experience," said Nicolas
Zibell, CEO for TCL Communication. "We're humbled to play
such an important role in the future of BlackBerry smartphones,
which have been so iconic in our industry, and we're eager to prove
to the BlackBerry community that their excitement around this new
BlackBerry smartphone is something they can be proud of as
well."
"We want to congratulate TCL Communications on the launch of
KEYone," said Alex Thurber, Senior
Vice President and General Manager of Mobility Solutions for
BlackBerry. "We have worked closely with TCL to build
security and the BlackBerry experience into every layer
of KEYone, so the BlackBerry DNA remains very much in place. We
couldn't be more excited to help bring it to market and introduce
it to BlackBerry fans."
DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT
Tucked into an anodized aluminum frame and soft touch textured
back, this new BlackBerry smartphone is built to offer the best in
durability while still remaining easy on the eyes. Featuring a
4.5-inch display (1620x1080 resolution / 434 PPI 3:2 aspect ratio)
with Corning ® Gorilla® Glass 4 that offers greater impact and
scratch resistance, the KEYone combines a touch display with a
physical keyboard to give users more useable space for typing than
a typical 5.5-inch all-touch smartphone.
With BlackBerry KEYone, you can forget what you knew about
keyboards. The device's Smart Keyboard responds to touch gestures
mimicking the heritage of the BlackBerry trackpad making web
browsing, reading emails and writing messages with flick typing a
much smoother and intuitive experience. This Smart Keyboard can
also be easily programmed to launch up to 52 customizable
shortcuts, such as pressing "I" for your inbox or "M" to access
maps; providing even greater ease of use. In addition, KEYone is
the first smartphone to provide the security of a fingerprint
sensor built directly into the keyboard spacebar, for added
functionality and security.
DISTINCTLY BLACKBERRY
Beyond the iconic BlackBerry design that's been curated
for the modern user, the BlackBerry KEYone comes with a
number of features and security enhancements making this smartphone
distinctly BlackBerry. Out of the box, the device runs Android 7.1
- giving users access to the entire Google Play store and apps -
and will receive Google security patch updates. It comes loaded
with BlackBerry Hub®, bringing all your messages into one
consolidated place; including emails, texts and messages from any
social media account. Another benefit of BlackBerry Hub, is the
ability to manage multiple email accounts without switching between
apps, with support for Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, Microsoft
Exchange accounts, and many other IMAP and POP3 email
providers.
What really sets a BlackBerry smartphone apart from any other
Android device are the enhanced security features built into every
device right from the start. From a hardened operating system to
BlackBerry Limited's proprietary technique for establishing a
hardware root of trust adding security keys to the processor, the
BlackBerry KEYone is intentionally designed to offer the most
secure Android smartphone experience possible. This device comes
pre-loaded with DTEK™ by BlackBerry, offering constant security
monitoring and protection of your operating system and apps by
letting you know when your privacy could be at risk and how you can
take action to improve it. A quick glimpse lets you see the overall
security rating for your device and provides simple access
allowing you to easily improve your security status. This
BlackBerry security application monitors your other apps, alerting
you if one is accessing your camera to take a picture or video,
turning your microphone on, sending a text message, or accessing
your contacts or location.
THE BLACKBERRY KEYONE EXPERIENCE
Beyond the design and security features making the BlackBerry
KEYone so distinct, these additional features truly reinvent mobile
communications for the business and enterprise user. At the core of
this new BlackBerry smartphone is the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 625
mobile platform with the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 506 GPU. This means
BlackBerry KEYone users will enjoy long battery life thanks
to more efficient battery usage and fast LTE speeds for super-fast
file sharing. It includes Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 technology,
making it possible for the 3505 mAh battery on the KEYone --
the largest ever in a BlackBerry device, to receive up to 50
percent charge in roughly 36 minutes. And for when you only have a
few moments to grab a fast charge, BlackBerry's Boost can turbo
charge your battery to get you the most charge with the limited
time you have.
"We are proud to be working with TCL on the BlackBerry KEYone,"
said Enrico Salvatori, senior vice
president and president, Qualcomm EMEA. "The Snapdragon 625 mobile
platform with X9 LTE and the Adreno 506 GPU is purpose-built for
users who demand superior performance and connectivity coupled with
outstanding battery-life."
The BlackBerry KEYone experience would not be complete though
without a great camera. That's why it includes a 12MP rear camera
with the industry leading Sony IMX378 camera sensor. With a large
pixel size(1.55μm) and Phase Detect Auto Focus, moments captured on
the BlackBerry KEYone will be ultra crisp and clear. And for when
you have to take a video conference on the go, it includes an
8MP front camera with fixed focus and 84-degree wide angle
lens.
For more information about the BlackBerry KEYone and to register
for pre-order updates, please visit
www.BlackBerryMobile.com.
About TCL Communication
TCL Communication Technology Holdings Limited (TCL
Communication) designs, manufactures and markets an expanding
portfolio of mobile and internet products and services worldwide
under three key brands -- TCL, Alcatel and BlackBerry. The
company's portfolio of products are currently sold in over 160
countries throughout North
America, Latin America,
Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia
Pacific, TCL Communication ranked as a top-10 global
smartphone manufacturer by IDC. Headquartered in Hong Kong, TCL Communication operates nine
R&D centers worldwide, employing more than 13,500 people across
the globe. For more information, please visit
www.tclcom.com.
TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Alcatel is
a trademark of Alcatel-Lucent used under license by TCL
Communication.
Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and
EMBLEM Design are the trademarks or registered trademarks of
BlackBerry Limited, used under license, and the exclusive rights to
such trademarks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is
not responsible for any third-party products or services.
Qualcomm, Snapdragon and Adreno are trademarks of Qualcomm
Incorporated, registered in the United
States and other countries. Quick Charge is a trademark of
Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Snapdragon, Qualcomm Adreno and
Qualcomm Quick Charge are products of Qualcomm Technologies,
Inc.
Media Contacts:
Jason Gerdon - North America
Email: jason.gerdon@tctusa.com
Camille Gere - EMEA
Email: camille.gere@tcl.com
Linna Yi - Hong Kong
Email: linna.yi@tcl.com
[i]
|
TCL Communication
is the exclusive global manufacturer and distributor for all
BlackBerry-branded smartphones with the exception of the following
countries: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and
Indonesia.
|
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SOURCE TCL Communication Technology Holdings Limited