News & Reviews:   BlackBerry Jakarta

The BlackBerry Jakarta is rumoured to be the next touchscreen smartphone from BlackBerry after the BlackBerry Z30 and Z10. So far, the Jakarta is just the codename with it possibly being called the BlackBerry Z3 when it gets announced. So far, the design looks very similar to that of the LG Vu but tech specs include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB of storage, a 5MP rear camer, 1.1MP front camera, 2650 mAh battery and a 5-inch display with 960 x 540 pixel resolution. As usual, the tech specs aren't very impressive, prompting many to consider that the Jakarta or Z3 could be an entry-level device around RM500. This seems unlikely though as BlackBerry devices have not dipped past RM1K even for the supposedly affordable BlackBerry Q5. The BlackBerry Z3 is expected to come with the BlackBerry 10.2.1 update which will allow users to install Android apps through APK files.

A phone called the BlackBerry Ontario was recently spotted on the Geekbench benchmark site sporting a 2.15GHz Snapdragon 800 processor. Up until now, there has yet to be any BlackBerry phone with a quad-core processor, much less packing a new processor like the Snapdragon 800. Other tech specs and features include 2GB of RAM and BlackBerry 10.3.0.92 as the operating system. So far, the Ontario's appearance could be part of a deal BlackBerry signed with Foxconn to make lower-end BlackBerry phones and devices for the next five years. These devices are expected to retain BlackBerry's trademark physical QWERTY keypad despite the most recent BlackBerry Jakarta expected to arrive in Indonesia without a physical QWERTY keyboard. No news on Malaysia release dates or pricing but we expect the BlackBerry Ontario to appear sometime in or after Q3 of 2014.

The BlackBerry Jakarta is a smartphone resulting from a collaboration between BlackBerry with Foxconn. It also looks to be following in the footsteps of the BlackBerry Z30 and Z10 touchscreen smartphones as it has been rumoured to have no physical QWERTY keyboard. Headed for Indonesia where BlackBerry has a very strong consumer base, the device will have 3G connectivity and should be available ther by April 2014, with no news yet on a possible Malaysia release date or pricing. As every tech user should know by now (and we sincerely hope BlackBerry decision makers are listening) coming out with yet antother touchscreen BlackBerry is like looking for trouble when you're already neck deep in crap. BlackBerry's other touchscreen devices have not been selling well, especially in the face of more powerful, more feature filled and more affordable smartphones. Hopefully we're wrong and the BlackBerry Jakarta suddenly has a slideout QWERTY keyboard at the very least.

The BlackBerry Jakarta is a smartphone resulting from a collaboration between BlackBerry with Foxconn. It also looks to be following in the footsteps of the BlackBerry Z30 and Z10 touchscreen smartphones as it has been rumoured to have no physical QWERTY keyboard. Headed for Indonesia where BlackBerry has a very strong consumer base, the device will have 3G connectivity and should be available ther by April 2014, with no news yet on a possible Malaysia release date or pricing. As every tech user should know by now (and we sincerely hope BlackBerry decision makers are listening) coming out with yet antother touchscreen BlackBerry is like looking for trouble when you're already neck deep in crap. BlackBerry's other touchscreen devices have not been selling well, especially in the face of more powerful, more feature filled and more affordable smartphones. Hopefully we're wrong and the BlackBerry Jakarta suddenly has a slideout QWERTY keyboard at the very least.