BlackBerry Q5 Targets Emerging Markets, Q10 Gets U.S. Release in June

BlackBerry unveils its BlackBerry Q5, a 3.1-inch, BB10-powered qwerty smartphone scheduled for release this summer to target emerging markets. There is no mention yet of Q5’s availability in the United States, as well as details about the new smartphone’s pricing plans. BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins also says that the qwerty BlackBerry Q10, which is now sold in 14 countries, will first become available from U.S. carriers in early June.

In addition, the OS update BlackBerry 10.1, which runs the Q10 smartphone, is now available for download to the touchscreen BlackBerry Z10. However, Z10 users in the U.S. will not be able to download the update until later this month.

Verizon Wireless tweeted that it would deliver the BlackBerry Q10 in June. Sprint, on the other hand, would have the smartphone available in “late summer.” Features of the BlackBerry Q10 include 3G/4G mobile hotspot capability, Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC), three microphones equipped with noise reduction, and Wi-Fi access.

During the Q5 unveiling in Colorado, Heins was optimistic despite the delays in the OS update’s release and Q10’s shipping in the United States. BlackBerry Q5 is a lower-end model that targets emerging markets, such as countries where most consumers do not have access to a computer but need a phone that can access the internet.

The Q5 runs BlackBerry 10, which has the videoconferencing capabilities of the BlackBerry Messenger, an application that is popular in Europe and emerging Asian markets. On Twitter, Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner analyst, voiced her observation about the new smartphone. Milanesi said that it seemed as if the Q5 had been designed to serve markets where it could leverage the popularity of BlackBerry Messenger among younger users.

Heins said that the company’s most recent quarter proved to be profitable. “We are definitely in the race,” BlackBerry’s CEO said. “In one short year, we have brought this company to a profitable quarter. The most successful launch year for BlackBerry is well underway. It hasn't been an easy journey, but man, we have reached solid ground with this company.” (KOM) Link. Link.