Blackberry recently announced its new Passport smartphone just two days ago, and it looks like the newly introduced handset is already making waves. At least, according to Blackberry's Q2 FY15 results.
Following its Passport unveiling, the company has also recently released its results for the second quarter of the fiscal year 2015 (Q2 FY15). According to Blackberry, an estimated 2.1 million Blackberry smartphones were sold during the Q2 FY15 period. Moreover, about 2.4 million Blackberry handsets were sold to end customers, including devices that were shipped pre-Q2 FY15. The company added that it now has 91 million active Blackberry Messenger (BBM) users, which is a significant jump from the 85 million users reported during Q1 FY15. Finance-wise, Blackberry generated $916 million for the quarter, while incurring a net loss of $207 million, which is not so bad compared to the $965 million loss suffered by the company in Q2 FY14.
Lastly, according to the Q2 FY15 results, there were already 200,000 orders for the Blackberry Passport since the device went on sale last Wednesday this week. There is no doubt that the company is enjoying the rather impressive initial turnout of its Passport device, and all things considered, it is hoping that its Blackberry Classic and its more traditional Blackberry form factor will also sell well when it launches later this year.
It is interesting that for such a rather unconventional mobile device, the Blackberry Passport is enjoying a warm initial reception in the market. When it was first introduced days ago, many did not expect to see a handset that is shaped in the form of a square.
Such a peculiar design however is intentional. Blackberry is positing that the Passport's square shape actually allows for a bigger, wider display screen, one that should do well for the market segment that the company is trying to target -- businesspeople such as CEOs, executives, managers, and business owners. Blackberry claims that the Passports generous size makes it easier for these type of professionals to compose or send email messages, or draft or edit document and spreadsheet files.
As for its hardware specifications, the Blackberry Passport packs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a huge 3,450 mAh battery. It boasts 32 gigabytes of internal storage, with 3 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM). The device features a 13-megapixel camera, which is a significant improvement from previous Blackberry handsets. Its 4.5-inch display screen impresses at 1440 by 1440 resolution.
The Blackberry Passport runs on Blackberry 10.3, the latest version of the phone maker's own mobile operating system. Users will be delighted to know that Blackberry 10.3 comes with some interesting new features, including a voice assistant, Blackberry Hub (which collates notifications, messages, feeds, and calendar alerts into one location), and Blackberry Blend, which lets users read text messages, emails, and and Blackberry Messages (BBMs) on non-Blackberry handsets.
The Blackberry Passport is available on Blackberry's online store for $599.00 unlocked. The device will be offered at Amazon before the year's end.
