Various sources are speculating that BlackBerry is preparing to release a new flagship smartphone in November of this year.
Insiders noted that BlackBerry may run its upcoming handset on Android software since the company is reportedly closely working with Google for the OS.
Codenamed as the BlackBerry Venice, the smartphone was first teased to the public during the recent Mobile World Congress conference held in March. It was called the BlackBerry Slider during the event.
Although the company did not reveal the exact specs of the device during the presentation, tech news site N4BB claimed that the BlackBerry Slider or Venice will sport a 5.4-inch Quad HD display with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. It will pack an 18-megapixel rear camera paired with a 5.1-megapixel front snapper.
The device will have 3GB or RAM and will feature a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from behind its main body.
For its processor, BlackBerry will reportedly equip the upcoming device with the Snapdragon 808 chipset.
However, it was previously rumored that the company was considering using the Snapdragon 810 processor for the Slider. But BlackBerry may have changed its mind and went with the Snapdragon 808 instead due to its successor's overheating issues, as noted by Geeky Gadgets.
For the handset's operating system, it will not come as a surprise if BlackBerry equips the Slider with its own BlackBerry 10 software. But based on a report by Reuters released earlier this week, the Slider may come with an Android OS.
According to the news site, insiders claimed that BlackBerry and Google are working together to develop an Android-based software for the Slider. The sources said that the joint project is part of BlackBerry's move to focus its operations on device management and software development.
When asked about the rumors, BlackBerry maintained that it still prioritizes its own operating system. However, the company declined to comment on its alleged collaboration with Google.
"We don't comment on rumors and speculations, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched," a spokesperson from BlackBerry told Reuters.
Hopefully, more details regarding the BlackBerry Slider or Venice will be revealed and confirmed by the company before its release period in November.
