BlackBerry unveils Z10 smartphone model in Phl

CEBU, Philippines - BlackBerry officially unveiled the all-new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone model in the Philippines, the first all-touch smartphone powered by Blackberry 10 operating system as its newest platform.

Company officials visited Cebu recently and launched the BlackBerry Z10, which is considered to be the fastest and most advanced BlackBerry smartphone with the re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented platform that creates a new and unique mobile computing experience.

The BlackBerry 10 operating system which will come in touch and qwerty devices was globally launched last January 30.

Blackberry country director Cameron Vernest said that the company considered 2013 as the year of transition as it is also the tenth year since BlackBerry smartphones were first officially introduced in the country.

He added that they aim to redesign the entire Blackberry experience, enhance the line-up of BlackBerry products and continue the growth of Blackberry users especially for Filipinos who are hyperconnected.

“BlackBerry 10 offers a faster and smarter experience that continuously adapts to you. Every feature, every gesture, and every detail is designed to keep you moving. It’s all about simplicity, balance of play and work,” he said.

The new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone that is available either in black or white features a 1.5 GHz dual core processor with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 64GB cards.

It also includes the latest enhancements in high density pixel and screen technology to display clear, sharp, and incredibly vivid images.

It features a micro HDMI out port for presentations, and advanced sensors such NFC (near field communication) to support mobile payments and the exchange of information with a tap of the smartphone.

The new smartphone device is expected to be available in authorized carriers and retailers in the Philippines on March 19 at a suggested retail price of P29,990.

Customers also have the option to make early product reservations for the new BlackBerry Z10 from authorized retailers at www.buybb10.com.

Kristian Salvo, senior business manager of Blackberry Philippines, demonstrated to the local media the special features of the new Blackberry Z10.

He highlighted the keyboard of the new smartphone device that understands and adapts to the user, learns the words used and how they were used and offers them up for the user to type in a faster and more accurate manner.

He further noted that the Blackberry Z10 allows voice calling and video chat for Blackberry Messenger that enables users to share things with people in an instant.

It also introduces the ability to share your screen with another BlackBerry 10 contact, he said.

Salvo added that the Blackberry Flow of the new smartphone enables features and apps to flow seamlessly for more efficient accomplishment of tasks at hand.

It also has the Time Shift which is an astonishing camera feature that could capture a group shot and the Story maker that brings collection of photos and videos together along with music and effects to produce an HD movie.

It has the BlackBerry Hub to manage all conversations. BlackBerry Balance technology that separates and secures work applications and data from personal content on BlackBerry devices, BlackBerry Remember which combines memos and tasks and the BlackBerry Safeguard technology that helps protect personal and business information.

The fast BlackBerry 10 browser also paved the way for a fluid and responsive scrolling or zooming which sets the industry benchmark for HTML5 support on smartphones.

It also includes many advanced features, supports multiple tabs, could browse sites privately, includes a reader mode, and integrates with the platform for easily sharing content.

The BlackBerry Z10 has built-in support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to connect and manage other ActiveSync devices in a company, or enable with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 to gain secure to work email, “behind the firewall” applications and date, and benefit from other security and enterprise mobility management features.

The BlackBerry World storefront has more than 70,000 BlackBerry 10 apps.

Applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln and Foursquare for BlackBerry 10 are preinstalled in BlackBerry 10.

Users of the new BlackBerry operating system could also access leading global application providers such as Disney, Cisco, Foursquare, Skype and Rovio.  (FREEMAN)