BlackBerry confirms incoming “Priv” Android phone

BlackBerry’s rumored Android smartphone is finally official, though there’s still a lot we don’t know about slider handset. The company confirmed plans to launch the Priv later this year in the earnings report for its second fiscal quarter, while leaving out a few key details.

 The report doesn’t dive into specifics, but promises to combine the best of both worlds when it comes to Android and BlackBerry. “Today, I am confirming our plans to launch Priv, an Android device named after BlackBerry’s heritage and core mission of protecting our customers’ privacy,” said CEO John Chen. “Priv combines the best of BlackBerry security and productivity with the expansive mobile application ecosystem available on the Android platform.”

 Chen goes on to note that BlackBerry isn’t abandoning its own operating system either. The company also confirmed plans to release version 10.3.3 of the software in March 2016. It’s possible we could see a new device announced at around the same time.

But the big news here is the BlackBerry Priv. That name and its slider form are no longer a mystery, but we still don’t know exactly when the device will actually launch or how much it might cost. We’re expecting high-end specs though, so you might want to start saving now if you’re planning picking up the Priv later this year.