BlackBerry’s Passport phone is hitting the markets around the world today. John Chen, the man behind the turnaround of the Waterloo, Ont.-based company, said BlackBerry’s future depends on recapturing the enterprise market.
Being the first new device to be released under Chen’s leadership, its performance will test his strategy and also the company’s potential to withstand the tough competition posed by iPhone and Samsung.
“Passport with 4.5-inch screen is designed keeping working professional in mind,” the company said in social media.
The hefty design has a screen that can show up to 60 characters across. Hence medical charts, spreadsheets and other similar information can be readable. The QWERTY keyboard is a welcome change from early designs.
BlackBerry to release BlackBerry Blend, a facility that allows users connect to BlackBerry phones from laptops, desktops or tablets, as well as from Classic Q20 phone.
Chen said Passport will be available in the United States at a no-contract price of $599 US.
