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Blackberry returns to Nigeria, targets 10% market share

By Adeyemi Adepetun
28 November 2018   |   2:04 am
Smartphone brand, Blackberry has returned to Nigeria, after almost a five-year gap with a target of five to 10 per cent market share in the country’s highly competitive market.

Smartphone brand, Blackberry has returned to Nigeria, after almost a five-year gap with a target of five to 10 per cent market share in the country’s highly competitive market.

To achieve this target, which it hoped to realise within the next 12 months, Blackberry launched its latest Android version of the brand, named, Blackberry KEY2 LE.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos on Monday, President/Chief Executive Officer, Ngilex Mobile (Blackberry Mobile Nigeria), Kingsley Obaji, said Nigeria remains a key market for mobile phone vendors.

Obaji, who said they want the brand organic to the Nigerian environment, said the reborn icon Blackberry phone is being sponsored by Ngilex Mobile, which comes with iconic features with new experience that include dual-SIM, dual-rear camera, more intelligent keyboard, extended battery life, improved privacy controls.

According to him, the challenge then was that Blackberry was running a proprietary operating system based on Research in Motion (RIM), but today, “everybody gravitate towards Android, so now we are back with that, but with improved security feature that is inherent to the brand. So, we think we will make major impact because of the new strength of the phone and features.”

Running the latest Android 8.1 Oreo operating system, Obaji said the Blackberry Key 2 LE provides access to millions of apps in the Google Play store and built-in Android experiences like Google Assistant and GoogleLens. Blackberry Key2 LE features a lightweight polycarbonate design and a newly designed soft textured back covered that provides great feeling in hand and less likely to drop.

To the Vice President, Business Development, Ngilex Mobile Limited, Thomas Larson, the latest device comes in three exclusive colors: slate, champagne, and atomic. Blackberry Key2 LE will be available starting on November 26, 2018 online at www.konga.com or www.jumia.com and at exclusive dealers in Lagos and around the country.

Larson said the BlackBerry Key2 LE includes enhanced security and privacy features right from the start, featuring a private Locker that can only be accessed with the user’s fingerprint or password, helping store and protect sensitive user data and content, and includes a Private Browser that auto-deletes browsing history upon exit. He said the phone also features USB Type-C 3.0 Charging and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 that enables a 50 per cent battery charge in 36 minutes.

According to him, with Dual Social APPS/ Dual Account Management Features, BlackBerry Key 2 LE is the first BlackBerry smartphone with dual account management built in to enable you to manage both personal and professional social media profiles on apps like Instagram, for more privacy and peace of mind. He said the variants with dual sim will also support dual WhatsApp and other apps that require unique number verification.

Larson said of the new product that: “Although there are many smartphone options available in Nigeria, the Blackberry Key2 LE experience is different combining the best of professional and personal use, and the price cannot be matched. All our phones come with standard one-year warranty provided by McDorsey Services Company Limited.”

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