With top-notch security, BlackBerry Priv to be the most secure Android phone ever

A lot has been covered on the shaky hardware future of BlackBerry in past few years. And, it seems that the company’s hardware existence rests a lot on the success of its Android-powered smartphone Priv, as CEO John Chen recently publicly admitted that the company would be out of the handset business in a year if it can’t make a profit from it. Details of Priv have been around for a while now. The smartphone boasts a 5.4-inch touchscreen, slide out keyboard, and capacitive touch on the keyboard, just like the Passport. The phone comes with pure version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop along with BlackBerry’s security enhancements. The phone runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 SoC which houses a 1.8GHz dual-core and 1.44 GHz quad-core processor clusters. It will come with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 2TB using a microSD card. The BlackBerry Priv will sport an 18MP rear camera along with dual LED flash unit which is complemented with a 2MP front-facing camera. The phone is not just high on specs, but also security. The company is laying huge emphasis on security and privacy – something for which BlackBerry is known and other Android phones in the market lack. BlackBerry hopes to make “security” the biggest selling point for Priv. Priv comes with BlackBerry’s Hardware Root of Trust – a manufacturing process that injects cryptographic keys into the device hardware, providing a secure foundation for the entire platform. Verified Boot and Secure Bootchain uses the embedded keys to verify every layer of the device from hardware to OS to applications in order to make sure they haven’t been tampered with. A hardened Linux kernel with numerous patches and configuration changes to improve security. FIPS 140-2 compliant full disk encryption on by default to protect the privacy. The phones also boasts the BlackBerry Infrastructure and the enterprise mobility management platform BES12.

On privacy standpoint, the smartphone integrates seamlessly with Android for Work to provide secure separation between work and personal data and applications. The Personal Space lets you download apps and protects your personal privacy, while the Work Space lets the enterprise secure its corporate data. It also comes pre-loaded with the brand new BlackBerry DTEK application, designed to help users manage and protect privacy. DTEK tells you which apps access your personal data and shows the overall security of your device based on factors such as the strength of your password, your encryption settings and the apps you have installed.

“For the first time ever, BlackBerry and Google have combined the most secure mobile platform with the most flexible application ecosystem to create a device that will revolutionize the way you look at smartphones,” the company wrote in a blogpost . With Android, top notch specs, much-needed keyboard, and privacy and security, it looks like BlackBerry is all set to make a move in the right direction. And with the kind of price tag Priv holds it’s clear that the company will try to gain back foothold in the enterprise segment – where it was once the undisputed market leader. “BlackBerry has realized it needs to support other platforms if it’s ever going to succeed. Android in enterprise is a very underserved space. With our connection, our accounts, our knowhow, it has expanded our servable market,” Chen replied when asked whether becoming an Android phone maker a path to profitability, at a recently held Code Mobile conference in California.