Amidst all the security flaws with the platform, the BlackBerry Priv is still going Android. The Canadian tech company claims that the smartphone will still be secured.
BlackBerry is making this possible with their Hardware Root of Trust. The smartphone is injected with cryptographic keys for added security.
In addition, it also has the Secure Bootchain and Verified Boot feature which ensures that the BlackBerry Priv is not tampered with, according to the International Business Times. The hardware and operating system is always checked for any security red flags.
The phone also uses an improved Linux kernel patched with code changes for a better security. It also has a full disk encryption feature that is FIPS 140-2 compliant.
BB Priv also comes with the BlackBerry Infrastructure and the BES12 platform that is often used by large enterprises and governments for added security and privacy. Compared to most smartphones today in the market, the Priv is set to be one of the most secure.
BlackBerry CEO John Chen said that Priv's security measures can be compared with the Samsung Knox, according to Fortune. The company really puts the emphasis on security.
With all the measures and safeguards for the smartphone, BB has put a steep price tag on the device. It will cost $699, which is almost the price of an iPhone 6S with 64GB storage and a 16GB iPhone 6S Plus.
The BlackBerry Priv is also more expensive than the new $649 Google Nexus 6P with 128GB storage. Chen did say that Priv was short for privilege and privacy.
Despite the expensive cost, the phone also has powerful specs. It has a 5.4-inch display and boasts the QWERTY slider keyboard similar to some of its predecessors. Sadly, it will run the Android 5.1 version instead of the 6.0 Marshmallow, according to First Post.
Under the hood, the BlackBerry Priv comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC with 3GB RAM. It also has 32GB for the internal storage.
BlackBerry is betting big on the Priv. With added security comes an expensive device. Will it be able to save the handset business of the Canadian company?
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