
TORONTO – BlackBerry’s new Android smartphone, the BlackBerry KEYone, will be available in Canada next month at Bell, Bell MTS, Rogers, SaskTel and Telus Business.
BlackBerry’s global smartphone licensing partner TCL Communication said Thursday that the new device sports a sleek aluminum frame and soft grip textured back, a Smart Keyboard with customizable shortcuts and touch navigation, extended battery life, and a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera.
The BlackBerry KEYone will start at $199 CAD on a two year term. Ahead of its May 31st official on-sale date, the device will be available for pre-order from select partners starting May 18.
"After all the anticipation and positive response received from the BlackBerry community on the BlackBerry KEYone, it's an honor to offer this all-new Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone to customers across Canada," said TCL Communication's North America president and GM Steve Cistulli, in the news release. "The BlackBerry story has such a rich history here in Canada, and we're proud to be part of the new evolution of BlackBerry smartphones that reimagine how we communicate and stay connected with a device that is so distinctly different."