As RIM (Research in Motion) changes its name to BlackBerry and introduces a new OS, BlackBerry 10, that will be shipping on new types of devices, I take a close look at the OS – what to expect, questions that have been raised and the answers that are available. Come with me and let’s explore BlackBerry 10.
On January 30th, 2013, BlackBerry released two devices that run on BlackBerry 10 OS. Contrary to general misconceptions, the BlackBerry 10 is not a phone; it is the operating system that currently runs on two new BlackBerry phones; BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10.
Why BlackBerry 10?
I have owned three BlackBerrys in the past – Bold 9700, Curve 9320 and most recently Bold 9900 – running on OS 5/6/7 and I have never been satisfied with the BlackBerry family the way I have been with the likes of Symbian, iOS and Android.
The issues I had have been with the limitation of the browser, the non-availability of the apps I am used to, and the dependency of the BlackBerry OS on BIS considering how unreliable the BIS network is in Nigeria.
To respond to the decline in market share and dissatisfaction by users like myself, BlackBerry went back to the drawing board and came up with BlackBerry 10, an OS that boasts of improvements, better user experience, more features and a robust app ecosystem.
What’s different about BlackBerry 10 OS?
During the BlackBerry 10 public launch, I watched the live stream on the internet and for the first time since I heard about its release, I could see what the excitement was about. As the CEO introduced the first two devices that will be running BlackBerry 10 OS – the Z10, a full touch screen phone and the Q10, a physical QWERTY and touch – some of the features I thought were cool are:
BlackBerry Balance: This makes it easy to setup personal and company profiles on a single BlackBerry phone. It is well suited for BYOD – Bring Your Own Device – as work and personal information can be easily set up, thereby enabling users view both personal and work related information. If an employee moves on, the device can be easily wiped while personal apps and content will remain.
The Flow: On the BB10, apps work together seamlessly. Although, old and new BlackBerry users may find the new flow a little challenging as it is a departure from the former user experience, those who have used it for a few days have expressed it is easy to get the hang of the changes after using it for a few days.
The Keyboard: There is a uniquely styled virtual keyboard available on the Z10 enabled with word prediction.
Available apps and partnerships: During the demo, they made it clear that the BlackBerry 10 has over 70,000 apps to start with. I know that BlackBerry has been courting developers to create apps for BlackBerry 10. So far, leading developers like Kindle, Whatsapp and Skype have given a commitment that they are going to make their apps available.
For now, Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and LinkedIn are available. In this case, the Facebook app was developed by BlackBerry. What this means is that new features are not delivered to the BlackBerry 10 useras fast as they are delivered to iOS and Android users. If you are a heavy app user, you might want to waita little before purchasing this device, some of your favourite apps aren’t available just yet.
The BBM voice, video and screen sharing: The BBM is one of the core strengths of BlackBerry. On the new OS, it is possible to do voice calling, video calling and screen sharing.
For more features and how-to guides, you can check out this playlist on YouTube put together by BlackBerry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Battery life?
The BlackBerry Z10 has a 1800mAH battery that lasts for 10 hours of talk time. This is not so good if compared to other devices like the Samsung GALAXY SIII which can last for 22 hours of talk time.
Will BIS work on devices running BlackBerry 10 OS?
Yes, BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) will be offered by mobile operators on the BlackBerry 10 to allow access to BBM, emails and the BlackBerry browser. In addition to this, regular smart phone plans can be used; you would not need BIS to access internet based features on the phone.
Do you want the BlackBerry 10?
It will be wise to wait till the device is officially available in Nigeria to have a definite answer to this question. It has come to my notice that BlackBerry and the telcos are having talks and testing the network and I am positive they will work out something that suits the Nigerian market.
Hopefully, by then the BlackBerry 10 will have all the apps that I love using, my favourite browsers (Chrome and Firefox), good internet connectivity, and attract a wide range of developers that may wean me off the iPhone. I am eagerly waiting for March when the phone will be made available.
Would you want to get the new BlackBerry10 and at what price? Let’s know your thoughts.
