BLACKBERRY BB 9720 HANDSET @ Rs 15,990

In a bid to regain the market share in India, Canadian handset-maker BlackBerry today launched a new smartphone -- BlackBerry 9720 -- which will retail at Rs 15,990. The new handset, which will be available from the weekend, builds on the success of the BlackBerry 7 OS, BlackBerry India product management head Advait Vaidya said. Fitted with the new operating system 7.1, the device features a Qwerty keyboard, 2.8-inch touchscreen and track-pad for navigation, 5 megapixel camera, FM radio and new feature BBM Voice, which lets users chat over Wi-Fi for free.
Asked why BlackBerry is launching an OS7 powered device when it already has handsets powered by an advanced operating system, Vaidya said the company wants to offer devices across platforms and price points. "We have a huge Qwerty-installed base and people want handsets across price points. This new device gives them better OS (than existing models like Curve) at affordable prices," he said. Earlier this year, BlackBerry had launched its BB10 operating system and unveiled two devices -- Z10 and Q5.