BlackBerry Venice Rumors: Will Run on Android, Have Onscreen Keyboard
With BlackBerry keeping mum about details of the company's newest devices, the rumor mill is once again running on overtime, with new reports coming in about what the upcoming device is going to look like and what specs it will carry, according to a report in Tech Times.
First among these rumors is that the new device will be coming pre-installed with Android and not the BlackBerry OS 10.
Another rumor has to do with a leaked image showing the Venice will be equipped with not just a sliding keyboard, but also an onscreen keyboard which looks like the one found on an Android smartphone. Initially, when the phone was hinted at by BlackBerry during the Mobile World Congress early this year, it was known to be a slider phone with a slide-out keyboard which is supposed to be more convenient for longer messages or emails. But in practice, an onscreen phone is certainly easier to use especially for notes and shorter messages.
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If this particular leak turns out to be accurate, according to the report, then it just makes the idea of the Venice running on Android more plausible than the idea of the phone running on its own BlackBerry OS 10.
In earlier reports and leaks, there are other indications that this may be the case. One particular leak showed some Google apps on the device's home screen. Another leak showed the phone with its 18 megapixel camera and some support for Chromecast, which is the streaming TV dongle of Google.
The device is expected to be launched in November, although BlackBerry still has to confirm this. There is still a possibility of an earlier launch.
In another Tech Times report, it is reported that the device will be released through all four major U.S. carriers in November. This is according to another leak from prominent leaker @EVleaks who had made previous leaks about the device's specs. BlackBerry is looking at partnering with Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.
