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Remember BlackBerry’s Mercury smartphone? Well, the Canadian phone maker has since announced a few months ago that the device will be henceforth known as the BlackBerry KeyOne. But information regarding the device’s launch date has been rather, well, mercurial. Back in January, the company (and TCL, the Chinese mobile manufacturer that struck a licensing deal to build and release BlackBerry branded handsets) had teased the device. And then a few days later, it was reported that the KeyOne smartphone was going to have a February 25 release. But so far, there is no sighting of any unit in any store shelf in America.
Well, here is some good news for those interesting in getting the KeyOne -- BlackBerry and TCL have officially announced that the Android powered mobile device will be launching in United States and Canada mobile markets on May 31st. It should be noted though that for those buyers based in the US, they can only choose between purchasing the $549 unlocked CDMA or GSM editions on the onset. Still, the BlackBerry KeyOne has secured deals with various wireless carriers, including Sprint who will start pushing the device some time in summer of this year.
Meanwhile, in the Great White North, the BlackBerry KeyOne will be made available by way of Bell, Rogers, SaskTel, and Telus at a price of $199 CAD on a two year agreement. For comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy S8 phablet is usually offered at a price of $250 CAD on a two year contract. While it is true that BlackBerry is positioning KeyOne as a high end Android run smartphone, it will likely not be as pricey as other recent high profile Android releases.
It goes without saying that BlackBerry is eager to make a splash again the world of mobile, like it did before more than a decade ago. In order to do this, the company needs all the help it can get from mobile operators in the US. BlackBerry has had a hard time gaining some traction in America in the last few years. Its previous Android powered devices, the DTEK series, sold some units, but mainly to die hard fans and business driven mobile users.
But with a wireless carrier partnership, the BlackBerry KeyOne could enjoy more exposure to the general public. Being pushed by a name such as Sprint will definitely increase the device’s chances of being noticed. Of course, the KeyOne will likely not become as big as a Galaxy or an iPhone, but if BlackBerry chooses its battles carefully, it could live to fight another day.
To explore more offers, browse other phones and plans from BlackBerry at Wirefly today.
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