Blackberry has long gone out of the phone OS business, but that hasn’t stopped them from releasing hardware bundled with the Android OS. After being leaked over the last few weeks, the Blackberry DTEK60 is now a real phone, and is available for purchase today at www.blackberry.com.
Blackberry COO Ralph Pini had the following to say about the newest entry into the DTEK series of Android-powered phones:
With the DTEK60, BlackBerry continues to focus on our strengths: state-of-the-art software and security solutions. When you see our logo it means security, from our class-leading enterprise software to devices secured by BlackBerry software.
The DTEK60 is part of Blackberry’s transition towards device software licensing, with the phone hardware being manufactured by TCL, the same company behind the similar looking Alcatel 4G Idol S. The DTEK60 features a fingerprint sensor for the purpose of unlocking the phone, as well as managing purchases with Android Pay and Password Keeper, the Blackberry Intelligent Keyboard, the Blackberry Hub, an 5.5″ QuadHD display, 2TB expandable memory, a 21MP and a long lasting 3000 mAH battery, with a starting price of USD$499
The DTEK series of phones are made with security and productivity in mind:
• Rapid Security Patching: BlackBerry has a record of being the quickest to deliver security patches, setting the bar in incident response and patch management to protect your device from malicious threats.
• DTEK™ by BlackBerry App: Enables users to automatically monitor their OS and apps to know when their privacy could be at risk and to take action to improve it. The DTEK app also monitors applications and notifies you when someone is: taking pictures or videos without your knowledge, turning your microphone on, sending a text message, or accessing your contacts or location.
• Hardware Root of Trust: BlackBerry uses a proprietary technique that adds security from the start, allowing for the tracking, verification and provisioning of the DTEK60.
• Secure Boot Process: Starting with the root of trust, each stage of DTEK60’s secure boot chain must first verify that the next component is fully intact before proceeding, ensuring your device has not been tampered with since the last restart.
• Android OS hardening: BlackBerry provides additional security patches, improves upon Android’s native Address Space Layout Randomization and reduces the number of system applications and services running with elevated permissions. This makes it more difficult for attackers to compromise the OS.
• FIPS 140-2 Compliant Full Disk Encryption: Protects your private information, like pictures or bank information, from being stolen if you were to lose your phone.
• Android™ for Work and Google Play™ for Work: Allows for fast, simple and secure integration with an enterprise environment as well as easy access to numerous rich business and IT-managed apps.
• Full Enterprise Mobility Management Support: DTEK60 supports BlackBerry’s powerful suite of EMM applications and secure productivity solutions, including: WatchDox by BlackBerry for secure file-sharing, Good Work for business-class email and collaboration tools, Strong Authentication by BlackBerry as a VPN solution, SecuSUITE for Enterprise for secure voice and instant messaging communication, BBM Protected for encrypted messaging and BES12 for secure cross-platform management.
For more info on the DTEK60, check out their official website, as well as the Blackberry YouTube channel.
