BlackBerry has announced a new keyboard-equipped BlackBerry 10 phone: the Q5, designed for emerging markets. The phone has a 3.1-inch touchscreen atop a keyboard, just like the presumably higher-end Q10 that launched earlier this spring. Unlike the more sober Z10 or Q10 phones, though, the Q5 will come in red, white, black, and pink. It’s set to launch in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America starting in July. No price has been given, but this phone appears to be aimed at the same market as the popular Curve, which was meant for a broader base than BlackBerry’s more expensive phones.
BlackBerry announces Q5 QWERTY phone for emerging markets this summer
is a senior tech and policy editor focused on online platforms and free expression. Adi has covered virtual and augmented reality, the history of computing, and more for The Verge since 2011.
Unsurprisingly, we also know relatively little about the phone’s specs. In his keynote speech, CEO Thorsten Heins promoted BlackBerry’s software platform and the idea of a purely mobile computing experience, touting the Q5 for developing countries where smartphone networks are more ubiquitous than traditional internet connections. While its US market share has plummeted, BlackBerry maintains a strong user base in countries like India and Indonesia.
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