BlackBerry targets young entrepreneurs and startups with Leap

NEW DELHI: Canadian smartphone and enterprise solutions maker BlackBerry launched the BlackBerry Leap, the successor to its Z3 device, targeting young entrepreneurs and startups in the country.

The Leap will be positioned in the crowded mid-segment of India’s smartphone market, competing with Samsung, HTC, OnePlus and local handset makers. It is aimed at business professionals who seek affordability in devices without compromising on features.

“The device will be an entry phone for these professionals who can then further subscribe to BlackBerry’s other services,” said Sunil Lalvani, BlackBerry India MD. “It’s not a low-cost device and is positioned in the mid-tier segment. We expect a good uptake of this device in the Indian market.”

While the price of the Leap smartphone in India has not been revealed, it may be sold at just above Rs 20,000. The 4G device with a 5-inch screen runs on the latest BB 10.3.1 operating system. It will be sold online and offline from next week.

The Leap is being positioned alongside the company’s BES 12 Cloud service targeted at small and medium enterprises, which don’t want to spend too much while still needing security and high productivity.