The BlackBerry Priv is BlackBerry’s introduction into being an Android manufacturer, according to recent reports from Economic Times India . The publication spoke with BlackBerry’s senior, director of product management, who called the Android ecosystem “the future” and a “natural progression” or the smartphone maker.
“As we secure Android, over a period of time, we would not have two platforms, and may have only Android as a platform [for smartphones]," Damian Tay, senior director, APAC product management at BlackBerry, told ET.
The BlackBerry Priv released in November 2015 and has been one of the company's most favorable devices. In contrast, sales of other recent devices running the native BlackBerry 10 software, including the BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport have failed to capture consumers en masse. Tay detailed that 2016 would likely be a year where BlackBerry releases all Android devices. However, the transition to being an Android manufacturer would not be immediate.
BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport would remain on the market, Tay told ET. BlackBerry 10 is integral as a security platform. Many government agencies still rely on BlackBerry for both hardware and software. It is well known that President Obama uses a BlackBerry device because of its high level of security.
Currently, BlackBerry has plans to release two new Android devices, which will cost less than the BlackBerry Priv. The Priv sells for $699 unlocked.
