Chen also told The National that BlackBerry plans to release two mid-range devices this year.
Even though Chen did not disclose the specifications and features of the upcoming budget Android devices, he informed that the two new Android smartphones will be priced between Rs. 20,000 ($300) to Rs. 26,000 ($400).
The company received a lot of feedback from enterprise customers saying that $700 was "too steep", and were hoping to pay $400 for a device. Under Chen, BlackBerry reduced the number of BlackBerry devices launched annually, introduced cheaper devices, and finally introduced the Android-powered Priv at the end of 2015.
The Canadian smartphone manufacturer launched its first Android smartphone, Priv, last year. One will have a keyboard, while the other is a touchscreen-only devices. The price was therefore slashed from $699 to $649. The company had actually sold 600,000 units compared to Wall Street expectations of 850,000 units.
According to Chen, the distribution system which is being built by BlackBerry across countries will not just help its software and services business, but also support its hardware business, which is mainly supported by carriers in various markets.
BlackBerry Priv features features a 5.4-inch QHD (1440x2560 pixels) Amoled display. He believed that the high-end market for Android smartphones has gone soft, though he believed that the execution could have been better on his company's part.
Dulaney said that the company's decision to switch from its proprietary operating system was a good one, but that the move came too late to stem the tide of customers fleeing the platform.
In any case, if BlackBerry wants to compete against strong market players such as Apple and Samsung, it should adopt an innovative approach in terms of its offering.
The beta version of Android Marshmallow for BlackBerry will include all the highlights of the OS, including Google Now on Tap, Doze and App Standby features for improved battery life, and auto backup for apps. However, he also said the division would close if profitability could not be achieved.
Source: BlackBerry CEO promises two cheaper smartphones coming later this year
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