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BlackBerry hedges its bets at Live 2013

At BlackBerry Live 2013, the company formerly known as RIM filled out its BlackBerry 10 platform with new hardware and software. These were generally predictable: a keyboard-equipped BlackBerry 10 phone and a software update, for instance, were hardly unexpected, nor was a renewed focus on enterprise. But BlackBerry also tacitly acknowledged the need to tap into more successful platforms, announcing the launch of its BBM platform on Android and iOS.

  • Dan Seifert

    May 14, 2013

    Dan Seifert

    BlackBerry Q5: an entry level BlackBerry 10 handset (hands-on)

    BlackBerry Q5
    BlackBerry Q5

    The only hardware announcement made during this morning's BlackBerry Live keynote address was for the Q5, a low-end QWERTY smartphone destined for emerging markets. The Q5 takes the place of the old Curve — it gives BlackBerry an entry-level device that can be sold at a lower price point than its premium line.

    The Q5 looks very similar to the Q10, its bigger brother on the BlackBerry food chain, as it has a full QWERTY keyboard and square display. The display is the same 720 x 720 pixel resolution as the Q10, but instead of an AMOLED panel, it uses an LCD unit. In our brief time with it, we didn't notice any problems with the LCD, though it's certain that it has a lower cost than the AMOLED version.

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  • Adi Robertson

    May 14, 2013

    Adi Robertson

    BlackBerry announces BBM 'Channels' social platform for brands and celebrities

    BlackBerry's BBM service was one of the earliest popular alternatives to text messaging, but it's become less vital amidst competition from Apple's iMessage and a variety of third-party apps. Today, BlackBerry has updated it with Channels, a quasi-social media platform. Any user can create a Channel, after which others can "follow" them to receive updates. It appears to be aimed at brands and celebrities: a public figure can send news or status updates to users, who can then like or comment on them. Traditional one-on-one communication is also possible, but only if the Channel owner initiates a chat.

    Unlike many new features, Channels isn't limited to the latest software; it's available in beta on everything from BlackBerry 5 to BlackBerry 10. BlackBerry has also just announced that it's moving BBM onto Android and iOS, something that will vastly expand the reach of this new feature.

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  • Chris Welch

    May 14, 2013

    Chris Welch

    BlackBerry bringing BBM to Android and iOS this summer

    BBM for Android and iOS
    BBM for Android and iOS

    BlackBerry has just announced that its hugely popular BBM messaging service is going multi-platform: it will be released for Android and iOS as a free app this summer. BBM will support iOS hardware running iOS 6 and above; the Android version will be compatible with version 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. "It's time to bring BBM to a greater audience," CEO Thorsten Heins said in announcing the expansion, "no matter what mobile device they carry."

    Though it's long been considered one of BlackBerry's strongest exclusive offerings, Heins said that his company aims to deliver a "fully featured" BBM experience on rival smartphone operating systems. "We're starting with messaging and groups, but we'll bring voice, screen share, and of course, channels later on," he said.

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  • Adi Robertson

    May 14, 2013

    Adi Robertson

    BlackBerry announces Q5 QWERTY phone for emerging markets this summer

    Gallery Photo: BlackBerry Q5 gallery
    Gallery Photo: BlackBerry Q5 gallery

    BlackBerry has announced a new keyboard-equipped BlackBerry 10 phone: the Q5, designed for emerging markets. The phone has a 3.1-inch touchscreen atop a keyboard, just like the presumably higher-end Q10 that launched earlier this spring. Unlike the more sober Z10 or Q10 phones, though, the Q5 will come in red, white, black, and pink. It's set to launch in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America starting in July. No price has been given, but this phone appears to be aimed at the same market as the popular Curve, which was meant for a broader base than BlackBerry's more expensive phones.

    Unsurprisingly, we also know relatively little about the phone's specs. In his keynote speech, CEO Thorsten Heins promoted BlackBerry's software platform and the idea of a purely mobile computing experience, touting the Q5 for developing countries where smartphone networks are more ubiquitous than traditional internet connections. While its US market share has plummeted, BlackBerry maintains a strong user base in countries like India and Indonesia.

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  • Chris Welch

    May 14, 2013

    Chris Welch

    BlackBerry 10.1 rolling out to Z10 starting today, will reach US carriers by end of May

    BlackBerry 10 stock
    BlackBerry 10 stock

    On stage at BlackBerry Live 2013, CEO Thorsten Heins just revealed that BlackBerry 10.1, the updated version of the company's new OS that shipped with the Q10, is coming to Z10 users beginning today. Additions include support for PIN-to-PIN messaging in BlackBerry Hub, HDR photography, deeper customization of notifications, universal search actions, and generally speedier, less buggy performance. Heins said that most international carriers should be distributing the new update by the end of this week, with US carriers slated to receive 10.1 by the end of May. Z10 owners will receive an alert notifying them of the available download, and you can also manually check for the update in system settings.

    Heins also provided an updated on how BlackBerry 10's growing app catalog is faring. Over 120,000 apps for the new OS are currently available for download. Heins called out some notable additions including iHeartRadio, SoundHound, Bloomberg Hub, and Skype — which ships alongside BlackBerry 10.1 today.

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