The Android-based BlackBerry Priv has just made its way to another U.S. carrier. The QWERTY-equipped smartphone is now available to purchase from Verizon online and in its retail stores.
Although it appears as if BlackBerry's best days are behind it, the company has amassed a very loyal user base that would rather use a bulky 5-plus-year-old smartphone than the latest Apple iPhone 6s or Samsung Galaxy S7.
For instance, Kim Kardashian spoke of her affection for the OEM at the Code Mobile conference in 2014.
"I love a BlackBerry. Every time I say that, people are horrified that I have a BlackBerry, and I don't understand that reaction. BlackBerry has my heart and soul, I'll never get rid of it. I do have an iPhone, and I use that for photos, but if you have an email and you need to type fast, you need to have that keyboard," she said.
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton also showed love for her old BlackBerry in a batch of released emails from the State Department.
Since most people aren't buying old BlackBerrys like Kim Kardashian and Hillary Clinton, BlackBerry is seeking a new audience and hoping its loyalists follow the company now that it has a high-end Android smartphone on the market, complete with the company's iconic QWERTY keyboard.
The BlackBerry Priv launched exclusively on AT&T in November, and the smartphone was well-received, thanks to specs that include a 5.4-inch dual-curved edge quad-HD display, Snapdragon 808 processor and 3 GB of RAM. While the Priv runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow is in the works.
T-Mobile scored the BlackBerry Priv in January, and now, Verizon customers can purchase the smartphone through the carrier's online store and in its retail stores. Supplies are limited in retail stores, so it's best to call your Verizon store before heading in.
Verizon has priced the BlackBerry Priv at $0 down and $30 per month for 24 months. If you'd prefer to purchase the Verizon BlackBerry Priv at full retail price, that will set you back $720.
Have you picked up a BlackBerry Priv and what are your thoughts on BlackBerry's first Android smartphone? Let us know in the comments below.
