The Blackberry's first Android smartphone coming this November with a slide-out keyboard

REUTERS/DADO RUVIC

 

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We have talked abou this before, but we want to update you more on the latest about it.
Blackberry was once considered a powerhouse mobile company with their popular keyboard devices. In recent years, however, with the advent of touchscreen smartphones, it struggled to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple.
However, it seems like Blackberry is not ready to give up as the company will soon release their first Blackberry Android smartphone. According to insiders, the upcoming device is code-named "Venice."
The smartphone with a large screen and slide-out keyboard was first unveiled during the Mobile World Congress.
While Blackberry has yet to release the official specifications of Venice, multiple sources have given a glimpse of what the device may look like.
Venice will have a 5.4-inch Quad HD screen with a 1440x2560 resolution. It also has curved edges, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge.
The device will feature the same glass weave pattern found on the Blackberry Z30 and may have a stainless steel frame.

Read: New: BlackBerry debuts $549 Passport Silver Edition phone with free accessories




It will use a 64-bit Snapdragon 808 processor, featuring a hexa-core 1.8 GHz CPU and an Adreno 418 GPU. It will also have 3 GB of RAM.

Venice is said to have an 18 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front-facing camera. The smartphone may also come with front-facing speakers.
What makes Venice unique is its physical keyboard, which slides out from under the screen. The device will be perfect for consumers who don't want to type on the screen. Blackberry also stays true to its design aesthetic by incorporating the physical keyboard.
Venice will be equipped with the Android 5.0 Lollipop OS and will have access to Google Chromecast.
Many are awaiting the release of Blackberry's first Android smartphone to see whether the company can adapt itself to the ever-changing mobile market.
However, for Blackberry users who want to remain on the BB 10 OS, a variant of the Venice with a BB 10 OS will also be released.
The Blackberry Venice is said to be released by November and will be available for AT&T and T-Mobile.