Tech companies showcase their latest gadgets at the world's biggest wireless telecoms fair, the four-day-long Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Among the products on show are a robot dog, a flying car and robotic doll aimed at assisting the elderly.

MWC 2024: Robot dogs to flying cars among highlights at Mobile World Congress

The Mobile World Congress 2023 will play host to the world’s biggest players in the mobile phone industry, where OEMs will showcase everything from concepts to new communication tech and of course, smartphones. Throughout the week, we will see a ton of new devices as well as older devices as Barcelona plays host to one of the biggest events in the mobile world.

MWC: The world's biggest mobile show

<p>A clash between Big Tech and European Union telecom firms is likely to dominate at the world's largest telecom conference slated to take place this week. This year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is expected to attract more than 80,000 people. These would include tech executives, innovator and regulators. The MWC is starting today (February 27).</p>

<p>EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday launched a 12-week consultation on its "fair share" proposals, under which Big Tech platforms would bear more of the costs of the systems which give them access to consumers.</p>

<p>Representatives from companies including Alphabet, Meta and Netflix are expected to use the conference as a platform to push back against the EU proposals.</p>

<p>Content providers like Netflix, which has arranged for its CEO Greg Peters to meet with Breton at the conference, argue their firms already invest heavily in infrastructure.</p>

<p>They say that if additional fees are forced onto them, this will have adverse effect in investment in products that benefit consumers.</p>

<p>By contrast, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia have been actively lobbying for Big Tech to pay the fees.</p>

<p>GSMA, an association representing more than 750 mobile operators and the organising body behind MWC, has been at the forefront of the debate.</p>

<p>"This discussion around 'fair share', or what we sometimes call the 'investment gap', is going to be a threshold question," said John Giusti, GSMA's chief regulatory officer.</p>

<p>Critics of the fair share or "SPNP" (Sending Party Network Pays) model have warned the so-called "traffic tax" could lead content-driven platforms to route their services via ISPs (internet service providers) outside of the EU.</p>

<p>Orange told Reuters the telecoms industry was not asking for special privileges in its demands. A spokesperson said the EU's consultation was a "positive first sign" of a debate starting.</p>

<p>"We argue for a framework that will facilitate a fair and equitable commercial relationship that recognizes a direct contribution by tech giants to network costs," they said.</p>

<p>Regulations will, however, be difficult to implement and enforce, said Shahid Ahmed, executive vice president at NTT and an adviser to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.</p>

<p>"We saw something very similar - the whole net neutrality debate - attempted in the U.S.," he said. Ahmed was quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A clash between Big Tech and European Union telecom firms is likely to dominate at the world's largest telecom conference slated to take place this week. This year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is expected to attract more than 80,000 people.

A clash between Big Tech and European Union telecom firms is likely to dominate at the world's largest telecom conference slated to take place this week. This year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona is expected to attract more than 80,000 people. These would include tech executives, innovator and regulators. The MWC is starting today (February 27). EU industry chief Thierry Breton on Thursday launched a 12-week consultation on its "fair share" proposals, under which Big Tech platforms would bear more of the costs of the systems which give them access to consumers. Representatives from companies including Alphabet, Meta and Netflix are expected to use the conference as a platform to push back against the EU proposals. Content providers like Netflix, which has arranged for its CEO Greg Peters to meet with Breton at the conference, argue their firms already invest heavily in infrastructure. They say that if additional fees are forced onto them, this will have adverse effect in investment in products that benefit consumers. By contrast, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Telecom Italia have been actively lobbying for Big Tech to pay the fees. GSMA, an association representing more than 750 mobile operators and the organising body behind MWC, has been at the forefront of the debate. "This discussion around 'fair share', or what we sometimes call the 'investment gap', is going to be a threshold question," said John Giusti, GSMA's chief regulatory officer. Critics of the fair share or "SPNP" (Sending Party Network Pays) model have warned the so-called "traffic tax" could lead content-driven platforms to route their services via ISPs (internet service providers) outside of the EU. Orange told Reuters the telecoms industry was not asking for special privileges in its demands. A spokesperson said the EU's consultation was a "positive first sign" of a debate starting. "We argue for a framework that will facilitate a fair and equitable commercial relationship that recognizes a direct contribution by tech giants to network costs," they said. Regulations will, however, be difficult to implement and enforce, said Shahid Ahmed, executive vice president at NTT and an adviser to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. "We saw something very similar - the whole net neutrality debate - attempted in the U.S.," he said. Ahmed was quoted by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Mobile World Congress may see clash between Big Tech and telecom companies

Tech events cancelled across the world over coronavirus concerns

The annual trade show Mobile World Congress (MWC) was cancelled on February 12 after a mass exodus by exhibitors due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak. While Spanish health officials said that there was no reason to cancel the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona over coronavirus fears, despite major companies pulling out of the event.

Catalonia Health Minister: There is no public health reason to suspend any event

<p>Lenovo, which unveiled the Moto G5 on Sunday at MWC 2017, is bringing the phone to India on March 15. The company has already started sending media invites for the event scheduled for March 15 in New Delhi.</p>

<p>While the next-generation Moto G comes in two variants - the G5 and the G5 Plus, the invite sent to the Indian media hints that only the Plus variant will make its way to India. It, however, is not confirmed yet.</p>

<p>The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G. Under its hood is an oct-core processor. The Moto G5 features a 12 megapixel rear with Dual Autofocus Pixels, which is said to lock onto the target in the blink of an eye. &ldquo;By utilizing 10x more pixels on the sensor, you can focus on your subject up to 60 per cent faster than Moto G4&nbsp;Plus,&rdquo; explains Lenovo.</p>
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<p><br />
The phone is packed with a 3000mAh battery with TurboPower charging feature, which is claimed to offer up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.</p>

<p>The Moto G5 Plus carries a price tag of $229 for the 32GB model with 2GB RAM and approximately $295 for the 32GB variant with 3GB RAM. The company is yet to announce prices for the Indian market.</p>

<p>Lenovo, last year, had introduced the Moto G4 in both the regular and the Plus variants.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G

Lenovo, which unveiled the Moto G5 on Sunday at MWC 2017, is bringing the phone to India on March 15. The company has already started sending media invites for the event scheduled for March 15 in New Delhi. While the next-generation Moto G comes in two variants - the G5 and the G5 Plus, the invite sent to the Indian media hints that only the Plus variant will make its way to India. It, however, is not confirmed yet. The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G. Under its hood is an oct-core processor. The Moto G5 features a 12 megapixel rear with Dual Autofocus Pixels, which is said to lock onto the target in the blink of an eye. “By utilizing 10x more pixels on the sensor, you can focus on your subject up to 60 per cent faster than Moto G4 Plus,” explains Lenovo. The phone is packed with a 3000mAh battery with TurboPower charging feature, which is claimed to offer up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. The Moto G5 Plus carries a price tag of $229 for the 32GB model with 2GB RAM and approximately $295 for the 32GB variant with 3GB RAM. The company is yet to announce prices for the Indian market. Lenovo, last year, had introduced the Moto G4 in both the regular and the Plus variants. (WION)

Moto G5 Plus to be launched in India on March 15

<p>Samsung Electronics said it would launch its next key device in the aftermath of a burning-battery scandal, the Galaxy S8, on March 29.</p>

<p>At the end of a product presentation at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company showed a short video clip announcing the date for its traditional &quot;Unpacked Event&quot;.</p>

<p>In past years, the trade fair was the scene of major Samsung launches. This year, Samsung postponed the presentation of its next major handset.</p>

<p>The company withdrew the Galaxy Note 7 last October due to faulty batteries, which led some devices to catch fire.</p>

<p>That caused a loss of consumer trust, wiping out $5.3 billion of operating profit, and allowing Apple&#39;s iPhone to overtake it in sales.</p>

<p>Besides, Samsung Electronics launched two new tablets on Sunday, marking its first major announcement since being forced to withdraw the flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after some of the devices caught fire.</p>

<p>The Galaxy Tab S3 and the Galaxy Book were presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in past years the scene of major Samsung launches.</p>

<p>The Galaxy Book will run on Microsoft Windows 10. The Tab S3 will have speakers by Harman-owned AKG, Samsung&#39;s first use of the brand since agreeing to buy Harman for $8 billion last year.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from Reuters)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


This year, Samsung has postponed the presentation of the Galaxy S8, its next key device

Samsung Electronics said it would launch its next key device in the aftermath of a burning-battery scandal, the Galaxy S8, on March 29. At the end of a product presentation at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company showed a short video clip announcing the date for its traditional "Unpacked Event". In past years, the trade fair was the scene of major Samsung launches. This year, Samsung postponed the presentation of its next major handset. The company withdrew the Galaxy Note 7 last October due to faulty batteries, which led some devices to catch fire. That caused a loss of consumer trust, wiping out $5.3 billion of operating profit, and allowing Apple's iPhone to overtake it in sales. Besides, Samsung Electronics launched two new tablets on Sunday, marking its first major announcement since being forced to withdraw the flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after some of the devices caught fire. The Galaxy Tab S3 and the Galaxy Book were presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in past years the scene of major Samsung launches. The Galaxy Book will run on Microsoft Windows 10. The Tab S3 will have speakers by Harman-owned AKG, Samsung's first use of the brand since agreeing to buy Harman for $8 billion last year. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Galaxy S8: Samsung to unveil new flagship smartphone on March 29

<p>After teasing for quite a few weeks, HMD Global has finally introduced the iconic Nokia 3310 in a redesigned form. The new Nokia 3310 has elements similar to the old model, but it comes in a fresh range of colours.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The new Nokia 3310 takes the iconic silhouette of the original and reimagines it for 2017. The custom designed user interface brings a fresh look to a classic, whilst the 2.4-inch polarised and curved screen window makes for better readability in sunlight,&rdquo; says Nokia.</p>

<p>The new phone boasts 22 hours of talktime and and one month of standby time. The Nokia 3310 is available in four colours - Warm Red and Yellow (both with a gloss finish), and Dark Blue and Grey (both with a matte finish). The phone comes with a micro-USB port for charging.</p>
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<p><br />
Like the old Nokia 3310, the redesigned model also comes with the classic Snake game. Besides, HMD Global, the new maker of Nokia phones, has also announced that the Snake game will be making its way back into people&rsquo;s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger. Also, the new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it&nbsp;even more playable than the first time around.</p>

<p>Other features of the new Nokia 3310 include a 2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, headphone jack, 2G connectivity, FM radio, MP 3 player, 16MB storage with a MicroSD card support for up to 32GB.</p>

<p>The Nokia 3310 will go on sale in the second quarter of this year at 49 euros. It will be available in both single and dual SIM variants.</p>

<p>Besides the relaunch of the Nokia 3310, HMD Global has also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nokia-is-back-but-now-in-an-android-avatar-12834">announced the first set of Nokia-branded Android phones</a> - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The new Nokia 3310 boasts 22 hours of talktime and one month of standby time

After teasing for quite a few weeks, HMD Global has finally introduced the iconic Nokia 3310 in a redesigned form. The new Nokia 3310 has elements similar to the old model, but it comes in a fresh range of colours. “The new Nokia 3310 takes the iconic silhouette of the original and reimagines it for 2017. The custom designed user interface brings a fresh look to a classic, whilst the 2.4-inch polarised and curved screen window makes for better readability in sunlight,” says Nokia. The new phone boasts 22 hours of talktime and and one month of standby time. The Nokia 3310 is available in four colours - Warm Red and Yellow (both with a gloss finish), and Dark Blue and Grey (both with a matte finish). The phone comes with a micro-USB port for charging. Like the old Nokia 3310, the redesigned model also comes with the classic Snake game. Besides, HMD Global, the new maker of Nokia phones, has also announced that the Snake game will be making its way back into people’s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger. Also, the new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it even more playable than the first time around. Other features of the new Nokia 3310 include a 2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, headphone jack, 2G connectivity, FM radio, MP 3 player, 16MB storage with a MicroSD card support for up to 32GB. The Nokia 3310 will go on sale in the second quarter of this year at 49 euros. It will be available in both single and dual SIM variants. Besides the relaunch of the Nokia 3310, HMD Global has also announced the first set of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. (WION)

Classic Nokia 3310 makes a comeback

<p>HMD Global, the new manufacturer of Nokia phones, has announced a global portfolio of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 - a day ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 kicks off in Barcelona. Priced competitively, the entire range of Android phones from Nokia will be available globally from the second quarter of 2017.</p>

<p>The Nokia 3 is the cheapest of all and carries a price tag of 139 euros. The Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6, on the other hand, are priced at 189 euros and 229 euros, respectively.</p>

<p>Unlike the Nokia X, XL and XL+ Android phones from Microsoft, the new Nokia phones are pure Android devices. &ldquo;The new Nokia smartphones feature Google&rsquo;s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure&nbsp;the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones,&rdquo; says HMD Global in a press note.</p>

<p>The Nokia 3 features a 5-inch display, 8 megapixel rear and front cameras, and comes in four colours - Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White.</p>
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<p><br />
The mid-range Nokia 5, at 5.2 inches, is a slightly bigger phone than the Nokia 3. The Nokia 5 will be available in the same set of colours as the most affordable Nokia 3.</p>
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<p><br />
The Nokia 6, on the other hand, is over a month old phone. Introduced in China last month, the phone has now been announced for the global markets. It comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display and includes Dolby Atmos sound.</p>
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<p><br />
Besides these three Android phones, HMD Global has also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/classic-nokia-3310-makes-a-comeback-12836">launched the iconic Nokia 3310 in a new avatar</a>.</p>

<p>Nokia was once the world&#39;s dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to smartphones, and then chose Microsoft&#39;s Windows operating system for its &quot;Lumia&quot; range.</p>

<p>After the 2014 deal, Microsoft continued selling cheaper basic phones under Nokia&#39;s name and Lumia smartphones under its own name, but last year, it largely abandoned both businesses.</p>

<p>HMD in December took over the Nokia feature phones business and struck a licensing deal that gave it sole use of the Nokia brand on all phones and tablets for the next decade.</p>

<p>It will pay Nokia royalties for the brand and patents, but Nokia has no direct investment in HMD.</p>

<p>(WION)</p>


The Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6 are the first Nokia-branded Android phones

HMD Global, the new manufacturer of Nokia phones, has announced a global portfolio of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 - a day ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 kicks off in Barcelona. Priced competitively, the entire range of Android phones from Nokia will be available globally from the second quarter of 2017. The Nokia 3 is the cheapest of all and carries a price tag of 139 euros. The Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6, on the other hand, are priced at 189 euros and 229 euros, respectively. Unlike the Nokia X, XL and XL+ Android phones from Microsoft, the new Nokia phones are pure Android devices. “The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones,” says HMD Global in a press note. The Nokia 3 features a 5-inch display, 8 megapixel rear and front cameras, and comes in four colours - Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White. The mid-range Nokia 5, at 5.2 inches, is a slightly bigger phone than the Nokia 3. The Nokia 5 will be available in the same set of colours as the most affordable Nokia 3. The Nokia 6, on the other hand, is over a month old phone. Introduced in China last month, the phone has now been announced for the global markets. It comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display and includes Dolby Atmos sound. Besides these three Android phones, HMD Global has also launched the iconic Nokia 3310 in a new avatar. Nokia was once the world's dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to smartphones, and then chose Microsoft's Windows operating system for its "Lumia" range. After the 2014 deal, Microsoft continued selling cheaper basic phones under Nokia's name and Lumia smartphones under its own name, but last year, it largely abandoned both businesses. HMD in December took over the Nokia feature phones business and struck a licensing deal that gave it sole use of the Nokia brand on all phones and tablets for the next decade. It will pay Nokia royalties for the brand and patents, but Nokia has no direct investment in HMD. (WION)

Nokia is back, but now in an Android avatar

<p>Chinese telecoms giant ZTE has unveiled what is claimed to be the world&#39;s first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020.</p>

<p>The company said the Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) - up to 10 times faster than the first generation of 4G services widely in use today.</p>

<p>The device, unveiled in Barcelona in northeastern Spain on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, the world&#39;s biggest mobile fair, will allow for 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi music and videos.</p>

<p>&quot;With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever. Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE&rsquo;s global development,&quot; a ZTE spokesman said.</p>

<p>Tech firms are racing to develop products that will be compatible with 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks, which promise blazing fast connectivity for a generation used to streaming movies and TV directly to phones.</p>

<p>South Korean carrier KT Corp aims to offer trial 5G services during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.<br />
The first large-scale commercial deployment of the technology is expected in 2020.</p>

<p>Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said ZTE was using the phone to &quot;showcase innovation&quot; and &quot;offer a glimpse into the future when people will be able to download full movies in seconds&quot; but it was not likely to be a big seller.</p>

<p>&quot;The sad reality is that this smartphone will not end up in consumers&#39; pockets because both 5G and Virtual Reality are still years away to be a mass-market consumer reality,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Founded in 1985, ZTE offers telecom equipment and services and has customers in more than 160 countries, according to the company.</p>

<p>It is the only Chinese smartphone vendor with a meaningful presence in the United States, where its 10 percent market share makes it the fourth-largest vendor.</p>

<p>(AFP)</p>


ZTE's Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps)

Chinese telecoms giant ZTE has unveiled what is claimed to be the world's first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020. The company said the Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) - up to 10 times faster than the first generation of 4G services widely in use today. The device, unveiled in Barcelona in northeastern Spain on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, the world's biggest mobile fair, will allow for 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi music and videos. "With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever. Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE’s global development," a ZTE spokesman said. Tech firms are racing to develop products that will be compatible with 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks, which promise blazing fast connectivity for a generation used to streaming movies and TV directly to phones. South Korean carrier KT Corp aims to offer trial 5G services during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The first large-scale commercial deployment of the technology is expected in 2020. Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said ZTE was using the phone to "showcase innovation" and "offer a glimpse into the future when people will be able to download full movies in seconds" but it was not likely to be a big seller. "The sad reality is that this smartphone will not end up in consumers' pockets because both 5G and Virtual Reality are still years away to be a mass-market consumer reality," he added. Founded in 1985, ZTE offers telecom equipment and services and has customers in more than 160 countries, according to the company. It is the only Chinese smartphone vendor with a meaningful presence in the United States, where its 10 percent market share makes it the fourth-largest vendor. (AFP)

Meet the world's first 5G-ready smartphone

<p>Chinese electronics company TCL unveiled its first BlackBerry-licensed smartphone which brings back the device&#39;s signature physical keyboard as it seeks to revive the once mighty brand.</p>

<p>The KeyOne phone has a larger screen than previous BlackBerry devices and a fast charging battery as TCL sets its sights on businesses and tries to rekindle BlackBerry&#39;s strong reputation for productivity and security.</p>

<p>In the new Blackberry phone, the keyboard can be used for more than just typing. The spacebar on the keyboard also doubles as a fingerprint sensor while individual letter keys can be programmed as shortcuts to open specific apps.</p>

<p>Running Android 7.1 Nougat OS, the new BlackBerry KeyOne features a 4.5-inch display, 8MP front camera with flash and a 12MP rear camera. It also runs the BBM secure-messaging system, which BlackBerry earlier this month said it would make available for software developers to build into their own products.</p>
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<p><br />
The KeyOne will go on sale around the globe in April at a cost of 599 euros ($549).</p>

<p>&quot;The new BlackBerry portfolio has a chance of success, because few companies now offer BlackBerry-style design and features, and the productivity-focused smartphone segment is underserved,&quot; said Ian Fogg, head of mobile at research firm IHS.</p>

<p>&quot;Even if BlackBerry&#39;s smartphone share remains so low it is hard to quantify, the vast scale of the smartphone market - over 1.5 billion units will ship in 2017 - means even a tiny share would represent significant unit volumes and revenues,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>TCL reached the brand-licensing deal in December after the Canadian company announced that it would halt in-house production of smartphones, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant tech firm. Under the agreement, BlackBerry will remain in control of software and security on smartphones, while TCL will handle creating handsets powered by Google Android software.</p>

<p>Officials from both firms unveiled the KeyOne in Barcelona in northeastern Spain ahead of the start on Monday of the four-day Mobile World Congress, the world&#39;s largest annual phone expo. BlackBerry worked closely with TCL to build security into the new device, said Alex Thurber, the general manager of BlackBerry&#39;s mobility solutions unit.</p>

<p>&quot;At BlackBerry we live and breathe security. Security has been engineered into the entire manufacturing process, throughout the hardware and of course the software,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>BlackBerry&#39;s physical keyboard was one of the drivers of the popularity of its earlier phones but it was dropped once touch screens became popular.</p>

<p>The company in 2014 launched a &quot;Classic&quot; smartphone that brought back the keyboard but the device was discontinued in July. TCL said it would be coming out with new BlackBerry products later this year.</p>

<p>&quot;What we are unveiling today is just the beginning of a new story,&quot; said TCL chief executive Nicolas Zibell.</p>

<p>BlackBerry once dominated the smartphone market but its luster faded after the introduction in 2007 of the Apple iPhone and the large number of low-cost Android devices that followed.</p>

<p>TCL is best known as the maker of Alcatel handsets and ranked as the world&#39;s No. 7 phone maker, according to recent data from research group IDC. It is the third-largest maker of simpler, so-called feature phones popular in Latin America and emerging markets, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.</p>

<p>TCL has acted as contract manufacturer for earlier BlackBerry devices but now licenses the phone brand and gives the Canadian company a cut of each handset sold.</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from Agencies)</p>


The BlackBerry KeyOne will go on sale from April at $549.

Chinese electronics company TCL unveiled its first BlackBerry-licensed smartphone which brings back the device's signature physical keyboard as it seeks to revive the once mighty brand. The KeyOne phone has a larger screen than previous BlackBerry devices and a fast charging battery as TCL sets its sights on businesses and tries to rekindle BlackBerry's strong reputation for productivity and security. In the new Blackberry phone, the keyboard can be used for more than just typing. The spacebar on the keyboard also doubles as a fingerprint sensor while individual letter keys can be programmed as shortcuts to open specific apps. Running Android 7.1 Nougat OS, the new BlackBerry KeyOne features a 4.5-inch display, 8MP front camera with flash and a 12MP rear camera. It also runs the BBM secure-messaging system, which BlackBerry earlier this month said it would make available for software developers to build into their own products. The KeyOne will go on sale around the globe in April at a cost of 599 euros ($549). "The new BlackBerry portfolio has a chance of success, because few companies now offer BlackBerry-style design and features, and the productivity-focused smartphone segment is underserved," said Ian Fogg, head of mobile at research firm IHS. "Even if BlackBerry's smartphone share remains so low it is hard to quantify, the vast scale of the smartphone market - over 1.5 billion units will ship in 2017 - means even a tiny share would represent significant unit volumes and revenues," he added. TCL reached the brand-licensing deal in December after the Canadian company announced that it would halt in-house production of smartphones, marking the end of an era for the once-dominant tech firm. Under the agreement, BlackBerry will remain in control of software and security on smartphones, while TCL will handle creating handsets powered by Google Android software. Officials from both firms unveiled the KeyOne in Barcelona in northeastern Spain ahead of the start on Monday of the four-day Mobile World Congress, the world's largest annual phone expo. BlackBerry worked closely with TCL to build security into the new device, said Alex Thurber, the general manager of BlackBerry's mobility solutions unit. "At BlackBerry we live and breathe security. Security has been engineered into the entire manufacturing process, throughout the hardware and of course the software," he said. BlackBerry's physical keyboard was one of the drivers of the popularity of its earlier phones but it was dropped once touch screens became popular. The company in 2014 launched a "Classic" smartphone that brought back the keyboard but the device was discontinued in July. TCL said it would be coming out with new BlackBerry products later this year. "What we are unveiling today is just the beginning of a new story," said TCL chief executive Nicolas Zibell. BlackBerry once dominated the smartphone market but its luster faded after the introduction in 2007 of the Apple iPhone and the large number of low-cost Android devices that followed. TCL is best known as the maker of Alcatel handsets and ranked as the world's No. 7 phone maker, according to recent data from research group IDC. It is the third-largest maker of simpler, so-called feature phones popular in Latin America and emerging markets, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics. TCL has acted as contract manufacturer for earlier BlackBerry devices but now licenses the phone brand and gives the Canadian company a cut of each handset sold. (WION with inputs from Agencies)

BlackBerry KeyOne: Everything you need to know about the new BlackBerry phone

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