DTek 50 Canadian manufacturer’s second Android smartphone and the thinnest phone it has ever made
BlackBerry has unveiled a new mid-range smartphone that it claims is the “most secure Android handset” on the market today.
The DTek 50 is BlackBerry’s second Android handset following last year’s Priv and comes just weeks after CEO John Chen cast doubt on the future of the firm’s smartphone division.
The phone, which runs Android Marshmallow, comes with a 5.2-inch screen and is the thinnest device it has ever produced. It packs a 13MP rear-facing camera, and a 8MP sensor on the front.
It has 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, plus space for a microSD card up to 2TB.
“We take our customers’ privacy seriously,” said BlackBerry COO Ralph Pini. “That’s why we’re proud to have all the security and privacy functionality that’s built in our newest Android smartphone. DTEK50 merges the unique security and connectivity features BlackBerry is known for with the rich Android ecosystem.
“DTEK50 adds to BlackBerry’s lineup of secure smartphones, providing choices to our customers with different price points on both BlackBerry 10 and Android platforms.”
Security
Security was a key feature as the Canadian manufacturer unveiled the device through a webcast. According to a survey carried out by BlackBerry, 50 per cent of the Android users believe there device is only somewhat secure.
The Dtek50 encrypts users’ information such as pictures, videos and contacts. Malware protection is also built-in along with back-up, wipe and restore capabilities.
Additional software can provide users with visibility and control over which apps get access to personal information or device features such as the microphone or camera.
“With an increase in cybercrime on smartphones, people need to recognise that the private details of their lives – where they live, their bank info, pictures of their kids – are at risk on their personal device,” said BlackBerry chief security officer David Kleidermacher. “You wouldn’t leave the doors of your house unlocked at night. Having a smartphone that doesn’t take your privacy seriously is the equivalent.
“It’s equally important for businesses to protect their sensitive data from cyberattacks at all points of their mobile environment – from the device to the network and servers.”
The BlackBerry DTek50 was made available for pre-order today (July 26) costing £275 through BlackBerry’s website.
