Blackberry Unveils Its Latest Smartphone, The Passport
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The once-mighty Blackberry is now barely an also-ran in the smartphone world: the Canadian company is struggling to hold on to its one-percent marketshare. But, as KYW tech editor Ian Bush reports, Blackberry is betting that their new touchscreen will win back the hearts of businesspeople.
"This is the result, and I'm sure we're on our way back. Thank you," said Blackberry CEO John Chen.
Chen shows off the Passport, sized like the travel document, but with a 4.5" square screen.
"Usually when people first look at it, they say, 'Well, it's kind of big. It's a little different than I expected."
But it's a smartphone designed to be big, if not used with two hands.
"Passport is all about working wide," said Blackberry's Jeff Gadway.
So you can see more cells on that spreadsheet, and more of an email or document without scrolling. Their traditional physical keyboard is there, but Gadway says it's gotten a touch upgrade.
"It's just like a trackpad, so you can navigate through lists, flick to type, or slide your finger along the keyboard to move the cursor," Gadway said.
He touts its 30-hour battery life and loud phone. Passport, available in the US through AT&T by year's end, is aimed squarely at the corporate set, a niche Blackberry calls the "mobile professional."
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