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BlackBerry’s unconventional square-screened smartphone, the Passport, earned mixed reviews following its launch as the company’s turnaround push moved into a critical phase in which it must prove its handsets are still desirable.
BlackBerry showed off the new device at events in Dubai, Toronto and London. The smartphone, which has a large touch-screen and a modified version of the company’s well-known keyboard, comes to market as the phones of BlackBerry’s rivals all converge on a tall, rectangular profile.
The Canadian company says its new device is ideal for professionals who need secure access and editing control of spreadsheets, medical scans and other documents. However, reviewers said consumers may be disappointed to find some popular apps, including Instagram, were missing at the launch.
“The Passport is a shrine to everything BlackBerry has done over the last 15 years, but none of that is very relevant in today’s world,” a reviewer for tech website The Verge wrote.
Another tech website, CNET, gave the phone 3.5 stars out of five, praising the keyboard but saying the phone’s shape makes it awkward to hold.
Passport is now on sale in some markets, with a suggested retail price of around BD225 and it should be available in more than 30 countries by the end of the year.
Passport users can download apps from Amazon’s app store, previously only available for Android-based phones.
