BlackBerry Passport
AT&T to Sell BlackBerry Passport and Classic Feb. 20
AT&T today said it will begin to sell the BlackBerry Passport and BlackBerry Classic smartphones on Feb. 20. Both handsets will be available with contract and monthly payment options. The Passport will cost $21.67 per month with AT&T Next 24; $27.09 with AT&T Next 18; or $32.50 per month with AT&T Next 12. Customers can choose to sign a two-year contract, which will allow them to purchase the phone for $199. Last, customers may also choose to buy the phone at full price for $649.99. The Classic will cost $14, $17.50, or $21 per month with AT&T's Next 24, Next 18, and Next 12 plans, respectively. The Classic's two-year price is $49.99 and the full retail price is $419.99. The Passport and Classic both run BlackBerry OS 10.3 and include touch screens and QWERTY keyboards for typing.
AT&T Reveals BlackBerry Classic and Passport Pricing
AT&T today published pricing details for the BlackBerry Classic and its unique model of the BlackBerry Passport. The Classic will cost $50 with a two-year contract or $420 with no commitment. Customers may also choose AT&T's Next plans, which will cost $14 per month, $17.50 per month, or $21 per month with the Next 24, Next 18, or Next 12 plans, respectively. AT&T also showed off a new version of the Passport with rounded edges and a slightly changed back surface. The Passport will cost $200 with a two-year contract or $650 with no commitment. Customers may also buy the Passport via AT&T's Next plans, which will cost $21.67 per month, $27.03 per month, or $32.50 per month with the Next 24, Next 18, or Next 12 plans, respectively. AT&T said both devices will be available soon.
Hands-On: BlackBerry Passport
BlackBerry says "We're back!" with the Passport, a smartphone that breaks new ground in some respects. Here are our first thoughts.
BlackBerry Shows Off the Passport for Mobile Pros
BlackBerry today fully revealed the Passport, its first smartphone to debut since February. The Passport has a unique shape, providing a large, square screen with a full, physical QWERTY keyboard below. The phone has a steel frame that BlackBerry claims lends it great strength. The screen measures 4.5 inches across the diagonal and has 1,440 x 1,440 pixels. BlackBerry says the square aspect ratio helps fit more content across the screen when compared to 16:9 displays. The company took special care to develop the keyboard, which it claims is faster and more reliable than software keyboards. The keyboard is touch-enabled and lets users brush their fingers over the keys to scroll through information on the screen. Users can also flick up on the keyboard to use next-word suggestions, and swipe from right to left on the keyboard to delete the full last word. Under the hood, the Passport has a 2.2GHz Snapdragon processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It supports microSD memory cards and has a 3,450mAh battery. The phone comes with a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization. The device runs BlackBerry OS 10.3 with support the Amazon App Store for applications. Alongside the Passport, BlackBerry also introduced BlackBerry Assistant, a voice-activated tool similar to Siri, Google Now, and Cortana that can perform select actions on the Passport. BlackBerry claims Assistant is more powerful than rivals because it can access information behind corporate firewalls. BlackBerry is selling the Passport directly to U.S. consumers from its web site. The phone costs $599 and is being sold without a contract. It is compatible with HSPA/LTE networks, such as those operated by AT&T and T-Mobile.
BlackBerry Passport Goes On Sale Weds. for $599
BlackBerry CEO John S. Chen today said it will begin to sell the Passport smartphone on Wednesday. BlackBerry has provided few details about the device so far. It features a square shape that includes both a 4.5-inch touchscreen and a physical QWERTY keyboard. It also features a large antenna to aid reception and boasts 36 hours of continuous use. The phone, the first BlackBerry has released in a year, will run BlackBerry OS 10.3. It will be available in Toronto, London, and Dubai on Wednesday, and "a lot of places will have it" within two weeks. Chen didn't specify when it will go on sale in the U.S., but it will be sold directly to consumers, unsubsidized for $599.
BlackBerry Passport Lauching in Septembber
BlackBerry CEO John Chen today announced that the company's next phone will be called the Passport, and will launch at an event in London in September. Chen did not confirm any further details, although rumors suggest it may be an unusually wide device with a square screen and physical keyboard.
