BlackBerry Venice Android smartphone to launch in November

Key points

The BlackBerry Venice, the first smartphone from BlackBerry running Android, rather than the BlackBerry 10 operating system, will be released in November, according to reports.

BlackBerry to launch Android device with retractable keyboard in November, according to reports

The BlackBerry Venice, the first smartphone from BlackBerry running Android, rather than the BlackBerry 10 operating system, will be released in November, according to reports.

The device, which has been rumoured for months, indicates both a desire by the smartphone pioneer to continue producing smartphones, despite its sharp fall in sales in recent years, as well as a potential shift in favour of Android over BlackBerry 10.

Images leaked online indicate a rectangular device with a sliding, retractable keyboard, but curved right- and left-hand edges. The micro-USB connector and power socket, meanwhile, has been shifted from the left-hand side of the device - as with the BlackBerry Z10 and Z30 - and placed at the bottom so that it could, potentially, be docked like an iPhone.

The specifications include a 5.5-inch display offering a high-definition resolution of 1440 by 2560 pixels. It will have a rear camera offering an 18 megapixel resolution, with a dual-LED flash. The camera will also feature optical image stablisation and phase-detection auto-focus. Its front-facing camera will offer a five-megapixel resolution.

Inside, it will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 - which Qualcomm describes as a "premium-tier microprocessor" and offer three gigabytes of RAM. In other words, the BlackBerry Venice will be a premium device and will probably carry a price tag well north of £500.

More importantly, perhaps, reports also suggest that BlackBerry is tying up deals with major mobile operators around the world - including all four majors in the US. This suggests that new CEO John Chen has been able to start patching-up relationships with the most important channel to market, which had been destroyed after they were left with millions of unsold BlackBerry Z10 devices in 2013.

The suggestion of a November launch date - comfortably after Apple and Samsung launch their respective new smartphones - was suggested by American blogger Evan Blass, who has acquired a reputation for accurate leaks in the smartphone and device sector.

BlackBerry 10 operating system, while based on QNX is neverthless capable of running Android apps. But few app makers have decided it's worth their while even making the minor tweaks necessary to ensure that their apps display perfectly on BlackBerry 10 devices. Users can instead side-load Android apps, although this requires a modicum of technical know-how.