The BlackBerry Z10 has been in circulation for a few months now in the UK, and has just hit US shores to a pretty adequate response. According to reports, some retailer bought 1 million Z10 units, a big buy for on-ice BlackBerry.
At the press event on January 30, BlackBerry did unveil another smartphone to come with the BlackBerry Z10, but set the date back on this device, and it has only just become apparent.
The BlackBerry Q10 is a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard smartphone, what BlackBerry is calling “the best of both worlds”, for those faithful small key bashers.
Rogers, Canada’s top carrier, has had a document leaked containing information on pre-order prices and prices off-contract. Now, Rogers, Telus and Bell have got the prices up, and they are all unremarkable similar. Fido is the only carrier to have a different pricing arrangement.
Rogers:Â
- $199 on three-year contract
- $649 off contract
Telus:Â
- $199 on three year contractÂ
- $700 off contract
BellÂ
- $199 on three year contract
- $699 off contract
FidoÂ
- $350 on two year contract
- $650 off contract
All these offers seem a little poor, but it seems BlackBerry has confidence in the faithful Canadians to purchase the new device. With the lacklustre competition in the keyboard space, BlackBerry may be able to snatch some loyal fans back.
However, the question is does the BlackBerry Q10 do enough to deserve a three year contract. Remembering in two years time there will be a whole new range of smartphones with better everything.
Can someone really sign three years to this half QWERTY keyboard half touchscreen smartphone, when the HTC One, Xperia Z, Galaxy S4 and soon to be iPhone 5S lurk about.
We are unsure, but BlackBerry will be pushing this out on April 30 if the leak is true. Canada isn’t the only country preparing for the launch, with UK carriers preparing pre-orders of the BlackBerry Q10.
