BlackBerry's second Android-based smartphone may launch at MWC 2016 next
week in Barcelona, according to a new report. The company in December
had hinted at another Android phone launch in 2016.
The new report adds that BlackBerry's purported second Android smartphone, said to
be codenamed "Vienna", will be priced lower than the Priv smartphone. No
date for the launch has been provided.
To recall, the BlackBerry
"Vienna" was spotted in images back in November and showed that the company may ditch the slider design for its
second Android phone and may opt for its iconic physical keyboard
upfront design, previously seen on various BlackBerry phones. The front
of the handset was seen housing the display and the physical keyboard
below it. The rear included the camera with flash while the physical
buttons for volume was seen on the right panel and power on the left
side, as per the leaked images.
To be noted is that the BlackBerry
Priv was codenamed "Venice" ahead of launch. To recall, BlackBerry CEO
John Chen at CES earlier this year had indicated that the company may launch another Android smartphone in 2016 which
will be targeted at the mid-range segment. Chen however was also
reported to hint about not one but two phones - both running Google's
Android OS.
Of course, as with all rumours and leaks, we advise
readers to take the above information about the BlackBerry "Vienna" with
a pinch of salt, as the company has yet to make any announcements about
its new Android smartphone and the credibility of the sources cannot be
independently verified.