Starting on Thursday, Verizon Wireless will be offering the new large-size BlackBerry Z30 for customers who are willing to go online to buy one at its digital store.
The service provider announced earlier on Tuesday that it would put the phone up online in just two days. This marks a very small and quiet release for the smartphone but, it's also necessary as it is the only carrier to express interest in the product, according to CNET. This makes Verizon Wireless the BlackBerry Z30's "exclusive launch provider."
The Z30 comes with a 5-inch display, a large yet not removable 2880 mAh battery and four microphones instead of the standard two. It will act as one of the last attempts from the company to market a full-product smartphone to consumers. In fact, as many point out, this might also be the company's last device every as it has been pulling back from consumer marketing and focusing instead on big business and power users in the wake of floundering sales.
The BlackBerry Z10, which was supposed to be the new flagship smartphone to reinvigorate the BlackBerry brand, let to a near $1 billion write-down at the company. However, as ComputerWorld points out, nearly everything that has gone wrong for the company in recent history has very little, if anything, to do with its device's hardware. This means BlackBerrys are still good phones, there is simply no good home to market them in.
The Z30 will go on sale with Verizon's online store starting at $200 with a two-year contract. It will cost an additional $22.91 a month for 24 months under the Verizon Edge monthly installment plan.
Tell us what you think of the BlackBerry Z30, is it enough to breathe new life into the BlackBerry brand for you? Comment and share your thoughts with us below.
