September was likely the highlight of the year for smartphone enthusiasts everywhere. Not only were they treated to the long-awaited iPhone 6 and 6 plus, but now BlackBerry has decided to contribute to some of the ongoing buzz with their own new invention: the BlackBerry Passport.
Launched just a couple of days after the release of Apple’s iPhone 6, the Passport is the company’s latest effort to reestablish itself in an industry currently dominated by Apple and Samsung. One of the key factors that has encouraged everyone to give a second look at this phone is its square shape.
Diverging from the conventional tall and rectangular profile of most smartphones, the Passport has a large touchscreen and the iconic BlackBerry keyboard. However, some users report that the awkward shape makes it nearly impossible for one-handed use.
Reviewers appear to think that the Passport has both pros and cons. The tech website CNET gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars. It praised its powerful hardware, but disapproved of the fact that some apps found on Google Play, such as Instagram, were missing from the Amazon app store that BlackBerry uses.
Outside the professional world, however, the popularity of the Passport doesn’t appear to be on par with other devices on the market right now.
Most people here on campus were not even aware of the release of the phone, but those who did were sufficiently impressed. Sophomore Alec Tabatchnick felt that the physical keyboard present on the phone really made the Passport stand out among other smartphones.
“I love that feeling [of being able to type], and it would make writing out long texts much easier,” Tabatchnick said.
He felt that a major drawback to the phone is its $599 price tag without a contract. Also, he thought that the fact that it’s only available through AT&T could dissuade many people from getting one. Overall, though, Tabatchnick felt that the phone could still appeal to certain people.
“If you just need something functional that’s great for productivity, the Passport is a good choice,” he said.
Despite a difficult past few years, BlackBerry CEO John Chen said in a press conference that he was confident that the company is on its way up. Chen did acknowledge that the Passport will most likely not replace the iPhone.
The company doesn’t seem to plan on slowing down anytime soon. Within a few months they will relaunch the BlackBerry Classic, which is reminiscent of the once-popular Blackberry Bold.
They also have plans to release their new mobile device management system, the BlackBerry Enterprise Service 12 (BES12) in the coming month. The BES12 is a business software that will allow companies to utilize Windows-based devices with Android and iOS devices for more secure device, application and content management.
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