BlackBerry's upcoming Passport smartphone breaks the mold by being square, offering a display it alleges will better serve the enterprise users.
Because the Passport's 4.5 inch screen is square, which reportedly gives its the same amount of viewing space as a 5-inch, rectangular display. The company has yet to reveal how the smartphone's pointed egdes play into the device's ergonomics, though the squared borders and display push the Passport's overall aesthetics.
For those wondering about portrait and landscape modes, BlackBerry said consumers won't be missing out on anything. The company said it was looking to move beyond the "entertainment driven" form factor of rectangular phones and release a devices that was meant to maximize productivity for enterprise users.
"Based on academic typology, the optimal number of characters on a line in a book is 66 characters --current rectangular smartphones show approx. 40 characters and BlackBerry will show 60 characters," BlackBerry stated. "BlackBerry Passport offers its size and aspect ratio to accommodate these characters, making it the ideal device for reading e-books, viewing documents and browsing the web."
BlackBerry, offering a number of examples uses for the Passport and its squared, stated that it would provide better views for traders monitoring stock apps, architects assessing schematics and medical professional reviewing medical documentation -- BlackBerry also reminded medical professional that its devices and software are HIPAA compliant.
"The BlackBerry Passport will take you to new places on the best business trip you've ever had," stated BlackBerry. "We want you to imagine the possibilities."
Code-named "Windermere," the BlackBerry Passport has been scheduled for release in September of 2014.
The Passport's 4.5 inch display was said to have a display resolution of 1440 x1440 -- the device itself was reportedly 3.18 inches wide. It will be powered by a quad-core processor and stocked with 3GB of temporary storage space.
The existence of the Passport was confirmed in March of 2014, along with news of several other projects BlackBerry was working on. BlackBerry CEO John Chen, lauded for his efforts to turned the company around, addressed the series of leaks and threatened to take legal action.
"I recognize that, in some cases, the leaks reflect people's genuine interest in BlackBerry. There are a lot of people whose enthusiasm for our company and our products makes them want to know what we will do next - and that can be a tremendous asset for us as a brand," stated Chen. "But, when curiosity turns to criminality, we must take strong action."
