BlackBerry has begun taking orders for the Priv, its first smartphone ever to be based on the Android operating system. Prices start at $699, and the device will begin shipping on November 6.
The Priv includes a slide-out keyboard, a feature much-loved by BlackBerry fans. It has a 5.4-inch dual-curved screen, 32GB storage, a MicroSD slot, and 22.5 hours of battery life. Most significantly, it has a variety of security enhancements that could make the device more appealing for enterprise use.
In the past, BlackBerry has sold smartphones based on its own operating system, BB10, but the mobile development industry has not created nearly as many apps for BB10 as for Android and iOS.
