BlackBerry launches entry-level smartphone Z3 for Rs 15,990

NEW DELHI: Blackberry, the struggling Canadian smartphone maker, launched its first device from new manufacturing partner Foxconn’s stable, looking to gain volumes in one of the world’s fastest-growing handset market.
The company launched the ‘Z3’ smartphone at Rs 15,990 and India is the second market after Indonesia where the device comes in.
The Z3 features Blackberry 10 operating system and comes with a 5-inch display and a 5 megapixel camera.
Blackberry, once a preferred choice with corporate and business customers, has lost market share to Apple and other devices running on
Google’s Android operating system.
The loss-making company counts India among the few markets where it makes money, though a significant portion of the revenues also comes through its enterprise business.
In December last year, BlackBerry had struck a five-year deal with Foxconn to manufacture its devices. Foxconn –which is the world’s largest manufacturer of electronic products and a big supplier to Apple -- will make products for BlackBerry at its plants in Indonesia and Mexico. BlackBerry will own all of its intellectual property and handle quality assurance through Foxconn. But while Blackberry hopes to get a bigger share of the burgeoning Indian smartphone market, it faces stiff competition from homegrown majors like Micromax, Karbonn and Lava, apart from international biggies like Samsung, Motorola and Nokia.