BlackBerry announces BlackBerry 9720 smartphone

Blackberry 9720As expected, BlackBerry this week announced the BlackBerry 9720 smartphone. Unlike the recent BlackBerry Z10 or Q10, the BlackBerry 9720 is powered by the older BlackBerry 7 operating system and is billed as an inexpensive “starter smartphone.” Sharing many design traits with the BlackBerry Q5, its price point is likely to appeal to those who aren’t ready to spend too much on a smartphone.

“The BlackBerry 9720 smartphone gives you all the essentials of the BlackBerry smartphone experience to support a communications centric lifestyle. It has the best keyboard and functionality for BBM, as well as an updated BlackBerry 7 OS that adds many enhancements. It’s perfect for customers upgrading from a feature phone or entry-level Android or Windows Phone device, as well as existing BlackBerry smartphone customers, that want a richer experience and jump up in style and performance,” said Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice President for Products at BlackBerry.

BlackBerry 9720 specifications:

  • Processor: 806MHz Marvell Tavor MG1
  • Operating system: BlackBerry 7.1 OS
  • Cellular connectivity: Quad-band HSPA/EDGE
  • Other connectivity: A-GPS/GPS, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
  • Display: 2.8-inch HVGA (360×480/214PPI)
  • Input: Physical QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad, dedicated BBM key, touchscreen
  • RAM: 512MB
  • Internal storage: 512MB
  • External storage: MicroSD cards up to 32GB
  • Rear-facing camera: 5MP
  • Front-facing camera: None
  • Battery: Removeable 1,450mAh
  • Dimensions: 114 × 66 × 12 millimeters
  • Weight: 120 grams
  • Colors: Black, Blue, Pure Pink, Purple, White
  • Other: Built-in FM radio

The BlackBerry 9720 will launch in select markets in Asia, EMEA and Latin America “in the coming weeks.” With the launch this week of the BlackBerry Q5 in Canada, it remains to be seen if we will see it in North America. Pricing was not announced.

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New BlackBerry 9720 Smartphone Lets You Spark The Conversation

WATERLOO, ON – For customers that want a smartphone that’s built for a communications centric experience, BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today introduced the new super social BlackBerry® 9720 smartphone. Designed for a premium look and available in a variety of vibrant colors, the new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone takes everything you’d get from a starter smartphone to the next level, and comes packed with all of your favorite social apps to let you spark the conversation.

“The BlackBerry 9720 smartphone gives you all the essentials of the BlackBerry smartphone experience to support a communications centric lifestyle. It has the best keyboard and functionality for BBM, as well as an updated BlackBerry 7 OS that adds many enhancements. It’s perfect for customers upgrading from a feature phone or entry-level Android or Windows Phone device, as well as existing BlackBerry smartphone customers, that want a richer experience and jump up in style and performance,” said Carlo Chiarello, Executive Vice President for Products at BlackBerry.

The BlackBerry 9720 smartphone features a spacious BlackBerry® Keyboard with distinct keys for optimal typing, a 2.8” touchscreen and trackpad for easy navigation, offers generous battery life, and numerous enhancements including:

  • BlackBerry 7 OS – The new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone comes with BlackBerry® 7 OS version 7.1, which features an updated interface that lets you swipe to unlock the phone or access the camera from the lock screen, as well as additional enhancements.
  • BBM – The new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone features a dedicated BBM™ key that makes it quick and convenient to access the globally popular mobile social network, and with its BlackBerry Keyboard, messaging your BBM friends is easy and accurate. It also includes BBM Voice, which lets you chat over Wi-Fi® for free.* The latest version of BBM, which features BBM Channels, will also soon be available for download on the BlackBerry® World™ storefront, letting you tune in and connect with the businesses, brands, celebrities and groups you are passionate about.
  • Built-in FM Radio – With the BlackBerry 9720 smartphone you can listen to local FM stations, and automatically let your BBM friends know what station you’re currently listening to.
  • Multicast to Make Yourself Heard in an Instant – The refreshed BlackBerry 7 OS lets you quickly type your message once and post it simultaneously and instantly to your friends on BBM, Twitter® and Facebook®. You can even snap a picture and post it to multiple social networks all at the same time, right from the camera app.
  • Discover New Possibilities – With access to BlackBerry 7 apps and games on BlackBerry World, the BlackBerry 9720 smartphone can make you more productive and better informed, and keep you well connected and thoroughly entertained, while on the move.
  • Smart for Business Too – With BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express, the BlackBerry 9720 smartphone offers superior business productivity features with market-leading mobile device management, application management and security, and is a very cost-effective solution for any organization.

Beginning in the coming weeks, the new BlackBerry 9720 smartphone will be available in select markets from retailers and carriers in Asia, EMEA and Latin America. A variety of accessories from cases to carrying solutions, to chargers and audio peripherals, will also be available from select retailers.

For more information about the BlackBerry 9720 smartphone visit http://uk.blackberry.com/smartphones/blackberry-9720.html, and watch a YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9eTpojlWF8.

* For BBM Voice calls, both parties require a BlackBerry® 5 OS or higher or BlackBerry 10 smartphone, a data plan that supports BlackBerry services and a Wi-Fi connection. Please check with your service provider for availability and restrictions.

About BlackBerry

A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visitwww.blackberry.com.

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