Two major landmark events in the world of mobility have taken place as the Windows 10 operating system is abandoned by Microsoft, and Blackberry makes a move away from the physical keyboard with the announcement of the Motion.
Microsoft has side-lined its work on the Windows 10 smartphone operating system due to weak uptake, an outcome that has been widely expected for some time.
The OS was built on the concept of apps being shared between mobile devices and PCs, but a lack of interest from developers has contributed to the initial plan falling flat.
Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President in the Operating Systems Group at Microsoft confirmed on social media the position of Windows 10 phones, said that even he has switched to using Android.
For those using Windows 10 smartphones, crucial updates for security and bug fixes will continue to be applied to the device, but no longer would time be spent on adding new features to the device.
While Microsoft has had to admit the failure of this mobility foray, Blackberry has announced the arrival of its new device, the Blackberry Motion. This new device marks another step in Blackberry’s movement away from its trademark use of physical keyboards, joining leaders in the space on their touchscreen approaches.
Alain Lejeune, Global General Manager for BlackBerry Mobile, said: “The launch of BlackBerry Motion allows us to further diversify our product offering, delivering new experiences while remaining steadfast with the privacy, reliability and productivity that have made BlackBerry so iconic over the years.”
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The new device is set to include a 5.5-inch full HD display, a Snapdragon processor and 4GB of RAM. It will be released first in the Middle East at a price that is equivalent to around $460, however only the official price for the Middle East has been announced so far.
While this announcement is important, it does not mean Blackberry will not make another device with a keyboard, as it has previously produced all-touch devices such as the Z10 and the Z30.
