BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has successfully launched the Black Passport in the Middle East, and soon buyers there will be able to get a hold of a White Passport as well. The device is expected to be available in the region from December 1 onwards in the BlackBerry store in the Dubai Mall, and also at all leading telecom retailers in the UAE according to the company.
Passport popular in UAE
At the Gitex Technology Week recently held in Dubai, Mike Al-Mefleh, Senior Director, Product Management & Services Middle East, North Africa & Turkey for BlackBerry, told Emirates 24|7 “The BlackBerry Passport has been really popular here and has been selling well.” The executive expressed his excitement regarding the reception of the device and said that the device offers something very productive and different to the buyers. Such uniqueness makes the Passport their preferred device and leads to higher sales.
“The shape stands out in the flood of smartphones and tablets – yet, it is manageable to put in your jacket pockets,” said Al-Mefleh.
The new QWERTY touch-enabled keyboard from BlackBerry Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) has been featured for the first time in the Passport, which will soon be available in white as well. A real passport is a universal symbol of mobility, and the same inspiration applies to the device. The display of the device is made of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 with additional strength imparted by forged stainless steel, said Al-Mefleh. This is essential for the durability needed by business professionals.
No specific date for BlackBerry Classic provided
BlackBerry Blend, Amazon Appstore, BlackBerry World storefront and Assistant are few new features that come pre-loaded with the device. The black variant of BlackBerry Passport was made available in UAE for Dh2,699, and the new white variant will also cost the same.
No specific date regarding the availability of the Classic device in the UAE has been provided by Al-Mefleh, but he reiterated that the device will become available before the end of 2014. A hands-on video of the Classic device has recently been posted on the official BlackBerry Blog, which is an indication of the device being on its way.
