BlackBerry KEY

BlackBerry KEY are the smartphones released by TCL Communication within the license agreement with BlackBerry Limited.

2020: TCL will stop release of the BlackBerry smartphones

On February 4, 2020 it became known that the Chinese company TCL prepares for the termination of release of the BlackBerry smartphones. The company announced adoption of this solution in the blog on Twitter, having set exact terms. Development and release of the BlackBerry smartphones will be stopped on August 31, 2020. TCL specified that it "has no rights to development, production or sale of devices any more under the name of BlackBerry". The possibility of license renewal with the Canadian company BlackBerry Limited at the time of the publication of material was known not.

TCL is going to perform support of the sold devices till August 31, 2022, meaning warranty and service maintenance of owners of BlackBerry gadgets. Whether it will begin to release software updates, remains to unknown.

The BlackBerry Limited company for February 4, 2020 did not report whether it will begin to look for the new partner in release of smartphones under its brand.

BlackBerry Limited assigned TCL the right to release of gadgets under its brand in December, 2016. In the blog the company reported that the long-term license agreement will allow the producer to focus on the software for security and services.

Along with this BlackBerry also announced start of own platform of security for corporate Internet of Things (Enterprise of Things, EoT) that became the next step in the history of the company after cessation of production of smartphones. The platform which integrated in itself such existing technologies of cyber security as Good Technology, WatchDox, AtHoc and Encription is intended for work with Big Data.

KeyOne monoblock allocated with the hardware keyboard placed on a front panel became the first BlackBerry smartphone released by TCL. The smartphone was announced at the beginning of May, 2017 and went on sale several weeks later after a debut. KeyOne treated smartphones of the average level – was in its basis processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, and amount of RAM at the drive of 32 GB was equal to 3 GB. At the expense of the keyboard it was more than the leaders who left shortly before it Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, but cost at the same time cheaper – $550 against $750 for Galaxy S8. In Russia KeyOne left in September, 2017.

Key2 which left at the beginning of summer of 2018 became the second sign TCL smartphone under the name of BlackBerry. Having received significant improvements in terms of a hardware component, it saved the main difference from competitors – the hardware keyboard.

In further TCL read plans for release of Key3, but this model was not announced. The company was also going to release the smartphone with support of a 5G in 2019-2020 and even deliberated over creation of own smartphone with the flexible display.^[1]

2018: BlackBerry KEY2

On June 7, 2018 the TCL Communication company provided the BlackBerry KEY2 smartphone. This smartphone with the physical keyboard, sign for the brand, and advanced safety features from BlackBerry Limited has a set of the characteristics distinguishing it from all BlackBerry smartphones released earlier.

BlackBerry KEY2 is implemented in the body with a thin aluminum frame of Series 7 for additional durability and the back panel with Soft-touch covering. The smartphone is equipped with the intelligent keyboard and the 4.5-inch touch display with strong glass 2.5D Corning GorillaGlass providing protection against scratches and seamless design.

BlackBerry KEY2 smartphone

The BlackBerry KEY2 keys were received opaque by the covered and increased interkeyboard distance, and their height became 20 percent more for convenient text entering. Also the smartphone is equipped with the integrated finger scanner.

The Speed Key key serves for instant start of the chosen functions. It is possible just to key Speed Key in combination with any of 52 configured hot keys for start of the necessary application, a call to the necessary contact, sendings the message or access to other functions. The keyboard supports intuitive text entering using gestures and also performs function of the touchpad for touch navigation.

According to the statement of the developer, BlackBerry KEY2 can work without recharge up to two days, the smartphone has 6 GB of RAM, 64 GB or 128 GB a flash memory with a possibility of increase in its volume using MicroSD. Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon will ensure effective functioning in any situation. In addition to technology of fast charging Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, BlackBerry KEY2 has function of intellectual use of the accumulator thanks to which the smartphone, based on daily habits of the user, recommends optimal time of charging fully to use the smartphone until the end of the next meeting, air flight or an action.

BlackBerry KEY2 is also equipped with the double camera with the resolution of 12 Megapixels, the automatic adjustment of a white balance, a fast auto focus improved by an image stabilization system. BlackBerry KEY2 has the additional modes of shooting, such as portrait mode and Superzoom. In the portrait mode users can take professionally looking picture with effect of studio light. An optical zoom, using technology of multipersonnel reduction of noise, allows to take detailed pictures, even from long distance. BlackBerry KEY2 is also equipped with Google Lens technology thanks to which it is possible to get acquainted with responses about the book, having photographed a cover, to obtain information on sights and many other things, noted in the company.

BlackBerry KEY2 has the built-in functions of security and confidentiality. BlackBerry KEY2 has the protected operating system and own technology of a hardware root of trust with security keys for each processor. Installed application of DTEK from BlackBerry shows the device security level, controls data access and manages permissions of applications. It is possible to manage what applications have an information access about location, to the camera, the microphone and other data. DTEK from BlackBerry includes the ProactiveHealth function which allows to scan the device and to receive the report on the potential vulnerable parties and opportunities of optimization of a security system.

Using the Locker application the documents and photos placed in personal folders are not loaded in cloud, and the protected browser Firefox Focus from Mozilla provides privacy and protection against tracking in time internet- sessions. Access to the Locker application is provided on a fingerprint or the password, allowing it is safe to store confidential information, applications, images and the loaded files.

BlackBerry KEY2 is included in the Android Enterprise Recommended program. It means that the device meets the requirements of Google, among which monthly security updates, the provided BlackBerry Mobile, hardware business functions and updating of OS. BlackBerry KEY2 also supports function of the automatic adjustment allowing the large companies to manage mobile infrastructure.

BlackBerry KEY2 integrated in itself Android OS 8.1 Oreo with the user experience of the cult BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry KEY2 has access to app store of Google Play and to Google services of Assistant and Google Lens. It also has the configured Convenience Key key serving for quick access to the most used applications for different user profiles.

Distribution BlackBerry KEY2 will begin worldwide in June, 2018. The recommended retail price begins from dollars USA 649/649 euros.

2017: BlackBerry KEYone

TCL Communication, global manufacturer of smartphones, announced on September 28, 2017 start of sales in Russia BlackBerry KEYone — the first smartphone released by the company within the license agreement from BlackBerry Limited signed in December, 2016. BlackBerry KEYone will be available for sale in the first half of October, 2017.

BlackBerry KEYone

We are glad to report that BlackBerry KEYone is available in Russia now — Francois Mahieu, the managing director of BlackBerry Mobile (division of TCL Communication company) said. — During creation of this expected smartphone based on Android with the Cyrillic keyboard which is specially developed for the Russian market, we, being guided by the principles of reliability, equipped it with the strong display and also the heavy-duty accumulator guaranteeing smooth operation for all day. This new smartphone will become the excellent partner for modern business users.

The smartphone received recognizable design in traditions of BlackBerry, is put into the thin body with an aluminum frame and the nice on the touch textured back panel, equipped with the 4.5-inch touch screen with a cover plate of Corning Gorilla Glass 4 that provides high strength. The device works based on Android 7.1 Nougat — thanks to the latest version of OS users got access to Google Play and security updates of Google.

The smartphone is distinguished by the innovation QWERTY/YTsUKEN keyboard with 35 physical keys, the integrated fingerprint scanner, support of touch navigation and an opportunity to program up to 52 individual keyboard shortcuts for instant transition to the necessary contacts and favourite applications.

Among other features:

• BlackBerry Hub are all messages of users, including e-mail, text messages and notifications from social networks, are available in one place now.
• security — BlackBerry KEYone provides data protection of the user.
• Accumulator with a capacity of 3505 mA • provides on average 26 working hours in the mode of the mixed use h.
• The BlackBerry KEYone 12-megapixel camera is equipped with a photosensitive matrix that allows to take the accurate picture at any lighting. The front camera with the resolution of 8 Megapixels, the fixed focusing and a 84-degree wide angle lens will be suitable for video conferences.

It is possible to purchase BlackBerry KEYone in Svyaznoy, Euroset, M.Video, digital supermarket DNS and in shops of mobile Know-how electronics at the price of 39,990 rubles. Further expansion of distribution channels is planned.

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