Will the new BlackBerry Q5 be the gamechanger the company was looking for in a price-conscious country like India? Ivor Soans, managing editor, Biztech2 joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the technical specifications, the performance of the smartphone and more.
Q. What is the main features in BlackBerry Q5 ? Asked by: Hari
A. The new BlackBerry Q5 is a budget offering from BlackBerry targeted at emerging markets like India. Here are some of the main specss: Runs the new BlackBerry 10 OS with its gestures, BlackBerry Hub, and superb browser 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 8 GB onboard memory with hot-swappable microSD expansion slot Rear 5 MP camera with LED, camera has same software features such as Time Shift as on Z10 and Q10, but no HDR camera mode. Front-facing 2 MP camera 3.1-inch, 720x720 LCD screen 2100 mAh non-removable battery Comes in cool colours, of which I'm betting red will be the most popular.
Q. If BBM (Important option in BB) comes to Android & IOS it won't affect sales BlackBerry? Asked by: Hari
A. There's a lot of debate on this. Some claim BlackBerry has lost its only USP and is getting set to break up the company into hardware and software parts that can sold off, etc. However, the naysayers have been at it for a while now. Last year they said BlackBerry wouldn't make it past 2 quarters and would burn out all cash. The truth is BlackBerry has more cash today than last year and is in a better financial position today. I think BlackBerry had no choice. BBM is the best mobile instant messenger, but cross-platform compatibility was slowly choking it. I believe BlackBerry may be right when they claim this is a sign of their confidence in BlackBerry 10 and not throwing in the towel. Also important to note that they are walking that talk--they have promised that BBM on iOS and Android will have the same experience as on BlackBerry 10, with BBM video, screen share, and the new BBM Channels. So they are not doing a half-hearted release. I think BBM Channels may really become very big if BBM takes off on other platforms. Combined with BlackBerry's BBM infrastructure and the ability to do Ds and Rs perfectly right, BBM going cross-platform may actually help BlackBerry.
Q. BlackBerry Q5 will affect Os 7.1 & below phone models? Asked by: Hari
A. Of course it will. BlackBerry has some new 7.1 OS models (perhaps even a 7.2 OS) for budget-conscious customers, but clearly, the focus at BlackBerry is on the new BlackBerry 10 OS. And if you can get a BlackBerry 10 smartphone for a little more than an OS 7.1 smartphone, wouldn't you go for the new one?
Q. BlackBerry Q5 - Mini Sim or Micro Sim? Asked by: Hari
A. MicroSIM. The unit I saw had a hot-swappable microSIM slot on the side.
Q. When is it expected to be launched in India. I am a BlackBerry user since last 7 years, really want to buy this one. Asked by: rishi
A. The announcement said the new Q5 should come in July. However, as with all global launch dates, a few weeks here and there and from country to country could happen. For instance, India was among the first launch countries for the Z10, but is one of the later countries for the Q10.
Q. What is the market price for this BB Q5? Asked by: Hari
A. The Q5 is a budget smartphone, made largely of plastic, albeit which looks solidly built. The lack of a removable battery is to keep costs down too. While BlackBerry has said the Q5 would be a budget smartphone, there is no information on price.
Q. How much mAh Battery used in BB Q5 ? it will Support 4G LTE? Asked by: Hari
A. The Q5 has a 2100 mAh non-removable battery, which should be more than enough for a day of use. Yes, the BlackBerry Q5 will support 4G LTE, though I suspect that just like the Z10, different countries will get different radios. So countries with 4G LTE may get 4G LTE radios while countries like India may get HSPA+ and 4G LTE models may come in when 4G is launched in India.
Q. Since BBM is now gonna be offered on other platforms as well, Why should then I now continue with my Blackberry handset as one unique feature It have had is all set to become common? Asked by: Ishank Sagar
A. Well, if you have an older OS 5 to OS 7.1 smartphone BBM may be the only factor you think makes it more useful than the rest, but with BlackBerry 10, there are far more features that make BlackBerry 10 a compelling alternative for those who value productivity and are big on messaging of all kinds. From the BlackBerry Hub, which is in my opinion, the best one-stop messaging app on any smartphone platform to the keyboard and its word prediction capabilities, the best-in-class Web browser that has the best HTML 5 ratings, time shift camera, etc. Which is why BlackBerry claims they have opened BBM--because of the confidence they have in BlackBerry 10's capabilities and because they don't see BBM as the only BlackBerry USP.
Q. Other than memory what are other configuration changes in Q5 compare with Q10? Asked by: Hari
A. There is no microHDMI out, the display is LCD rather than AMOLED on the Q10 (so not as brighter and colours don't render as vibrantly, though I found it surprisingly good, a non-removable battery, 8 GB of on-board storage instead of 16 GB on the Q10, a 5 MB rear camera with no HDR capability as opposed to 8 MP on the Q10.
Q. Can you pls update us on the approx price range for BB Q5? Asked by: ayan
A. I wish I knew the price range. We will get an idea when the Q5 starts rolling out. So for instance if it launches first in Indonesia we may get an inkling of the price range, but at the moment we can only speculate.
Q. In middle east BB Q10 started sales meantime BB Q5 announcement forced people to wait for its release, it may slow down the sales of Z10 and Q10? Asked by: Hari
A. I don't think so. I believe the difference in price between the Z10/Q10 and the Q5 will be significant. the Z10 and Q10 are premium smartphones built with premium, best-of-available materials. And while the software powering all BlackBerry 10 devices is the same and BlackBerry claims performance will be just as responsive and smooth on all BlackBerry 10 smartphones, the camera for instance won't have HDR mode, etc. Someone who has a higher budget and wants a premium BlackBerry will not wait for the Q5 -- there is a huge difference in the Q5 and the Q10/Z10 and I don't believe the target audience overlaps or that the Q5 will cannibalise Q10/Z10 sales.
Q. But Sir, Can this 'confidence' on the part of RIM could boomerang and RIM could end up being another 'Nokia-case'? Asked by: Ishank Sagar
A. I don't think we can compare BlackBerry (no longer RIM, please note) and Nokia. Nokia was and remains the king of feature phones, and never really got its smartphone strategy right with Symbian while BlackBerry invented smartphones. Also, Nokia did not have a BBM-like app/service, which is the best mobile instant messaging tool around. Please remember that unlike Nokia which gave its amazing innovative capabilities in software to adopt Windows Mobile, BlackBerry has developed a whole new OS from scratch. Opening up an app/service to make it cross-platform has nothing to do with giving up an OS to adopt someone else's.
Q. When we can expect BBM app for Android and IOS? Asked by: Hari
A. The announcement said "this summer" which could mean anytime in the June to September timeframe.
Q. BB Q5 OS 10 may support some of android apps? Asked by: Hari
A. BlackBerry 10 allows Android apps to be ported very easily to BlackBerry 10. You cannot access Google Play, but can use only ported apps which are then available on BlackBerry World or you can sideload other Android apps, but which is a process only geeks would be comfortable with. Q5 will have the same level of support for ported Android apps and sideloading will also be possible, as with all BlackBerry 10 smartphones.
Q. HTC One come up with Ultra Pixel and Beats Audio and Motorola X going to come up with new high configuration ..Like other models Blackberry also going to come up with any extra features? Asked by: Hari
A. HTC and Motorola both have Android powering most of their smartphones and hence need those 'extras' to try and differentiate. BlackBerry has its own OS, which has enough of differentiation. So, while BlackBerry will continue to bring in new features (eg, screen share, which is only possible on BlackBerry 10), it may not necessarily have the same compulsions that HTC and Motorola face in terms of having some 'extra' to differentiate or beefing up specs to differentiate.
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