BlackBerry Priv handset owners on T-Mobile have started receiving the Android 6.0 Marshmallow software update on June 13.
BlackBerry launched the Android-powered Priv in September 2015 and the smartphone hit the shelves in early November. The Priv is the first BlackBerry mobile phone that does not come running on the company's proprietary BlackBerry OS or BlackBerry 10. The BlackBerry came with Android 5.1 Lollipop and the Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the first major update rolled to the mobile device.
Google's latest mobile operating system brings a number of improvements to smartphones. External media such as a microSD card had been limited to file storage, but with the Adoptable Storage feature of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, device owners can now use the microSD card as internal storage.
"When external storage media is adopted, it's formatted and encrypted to only work with a single Android device at a time. Because the media is strongly tied to the Android device that adopted it, it can safely store both apps and private data for all users," says Android.
App permissions have also been improved in Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Android device owners now have greater control of the permissions that the downloaded apps have on the phone. Customers can choose to accept or deny permissions individually.
The latest software update for the BlackBerry Priv also brings Doze and App Standby features that help in preserving the battery life of the handset.
"Doze and App Standby manage the behavior of all apps running on Android 6.0 or higher, regardless whether they are specifically targeting API level 23. To ensure the best experience for users, test your app in Doze and App Standby modes and make any necessary adjustments to your code. The sections below provide details," says Android.
Android 6.0 Marshmallow also brings a better app drawer, Google Now, performance and stability enhancements and more to the BlackBerry mobile phone.
BlackBerry Priv owners on T-Mobile should automatically get a notification for the latest software update between June 13 and June 17. Customers can also check from Apps > Settings > About phone.
The file download size is 1.3 GB and T-Mobile recommends that BlackBerry Priv owners should have at least 50 percent battery charge and be connected to a strong Wi-Fi network before starting the download process.
The BlackBerry Priv is not a very old smartphone but it has failed to attract many customers. T-Mobile has also confirmed that the carrier has stopped selling the BlackBerry Priv.
@newfangled0 Not currently! But you can check out our other phones here: https://t.co/fd8VdBBHQz *CelieP
— T-Mobile Help (@TMobileHelp) 6 June 2016
BlackBerry Priv had a price tag of $799.99 at launch. However, over the last few months the price of the mobile phone has reduced a lot. A previous Tech Times report highlighted that in April this year BlackBerry permanently reduced the price of the Priv to $649.
Best Buy is currently selling the Priv for $649.99 and the smartphone is available for just a little more than $480 on Amazon. The biggest price reduction comes from Newegg, which is offering the BlackBerry slider phone for $374.99, a discount of 53 percent on the original price of the handset.
