TCL Communication launched the BlackBerry KEYone smartphone last week following the inking of a licensing agreement with BlackBerry in late 2016.
TCL chairman and CEO Tomson Li said that BlackBerry licensed its security software and service suite, as well as related brand assets, to TCL Communication, who would design, manufacture, sell and provide customer support for BlackBerry-branded mobile devices.
The latest BlackBerry product is one of TCL’s highlights at MWC 2017. The new product became an instant hit as soon as it was launched and received nine awards from media organizations, making it one of the most highlighted products at MWC.
The BlackBerry KEYone receved its first honor, the Top Picks award, from the authoritative UK-based technology media brand Tech Advisor, at the MWC 2017. It was also the first award that Tech Advisor gave out at the event.
KEYone is turning the way the keyboard on a smartphone is normally used on its head by combining the touch screen with a physical keyboard, providing users with a large input space in comparison to what one gets with the standard 5.5-inch full-touch-screen smartphone. By combining the smart keyboard with the popular touch gesture recognition and BlackBerry’s traditional touchpad features, the device allows users to browse web pages, check emails as well as input and send messages by touching the keyboard in a more convenient and intuitive way.
KEYone was awarded the Best of MWC 2017 by Pocket-lint, the largest independent product evaluation platform in the UK, for its unique design. Pocket-lint commented that one of the positive results of the brand licensing tie-up between BlackBerry and TCL is that the KEYone continues the legacy and spirit of BlackBerry by preserving the classic full keyboard that is favored by loyal BlackBerry users.
KEYone stands out with its iconic BlackBerry design and security features. The new smartphone is designed with unwavering attention to detail from the ground up in terms of the security and performance aspects that are so important to users. It delivers the most secure user experience available among Android-based smartphones in the market by running on a reinforced operating system and the proprietary technology behind the design of the security key.
Besides the unique design and the security features, the phone’s additional functionalities are expected to reshape the mobile communication experience for business, government and corporate users.
Powered by a 3,505 mAh battery, the highest capacity among existing BlackBerry devices, the BlackBerry KEYone delivers a measurably longer standby time. In addition, the battery can reach a 50% charge within 36 minutes with the support of the Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ technology. Time-pressed users can choose BlackBerry’s Boost charging option for a quick charge enabled with the turbo boost technology. With these advantages, KEYone won the Best Business Hardware Award from IT Pro, a leading IT website in the UK, at the start of the event.
SOURCE/PHOTO: PRNEWSWIRE.