BlackBerry Passport: Breaking Design Boundaries

Many have thought that creativity around the design of smartphones was dead – rectangular device… screen… volume and input buttons. In fact, device companies have been emulating the same, entertainment-driven look for so long that there’s been a homogenization of the visual cues in smartphone design, to the point that some called 2013 “The Year the Smartphone Died.”

Stuck in a Rectangular World

We’ve been living in a rectangular world for quite some time and know it’s a great ergonomic design that drives content, media consumption and quick communications. However, the rectangle has become a de facto approach to smartphone design, perhaps limiting innovations.

Just as a PASSPORT is the universal symbol of mobility and was the inspiration for the size and form factor of this device, your BlackBerry Passport becomes your ticket to open new doors of opportunity.

It’s Hip to be Square

There’s a marriage of form and function with a rhyme and reason to it.

The BlackBerry Passport offers a unique 4.5” inch square screen with Full HD-class (1,440 x 1,440) resolution. It offers a similar viewing space to a 5” inch phone but offers an even better viewing experience because of the screen’s width.

Why?

Academic research has shown that the optimal number of characters on a line in a book is 66 characters (most current rectangular smartphones show approx. 40 characters; the BlackBerry Passport will show 60 characters). The BlackBerry Passport offers its size and aspect ratio to accommodate these characters, making it the ideal device for reading e-books, viewing documents and browsing the web. No more worrying about portrait or landscape modes, and no; you aren’t missing anything.

(Also read: “The BlackBerry Passport Re-Invents the Mobile Keyboard. Here’s How.”)

Consider how IMAX movies begin with the screens set to a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio projection for conventional movie trailers, before expanding to their true dimensions (and the audience goes, “ooh”). The Passport is like the IMAX of productivity, and you don’t have to sacrifice screen real estate, vertically or horizontally.

A Tool for Many Trades

In being designed from the ground up for the working professional in mind, the BlackBerry Passport will be the perfect device for many scenarios.

Let’s take a look at a few use cases:

• For architects and mortgage brokers, imagine being able to look at full designs and schematics on the go, and still being able to handle piles of virtual paperwork with ease.
• In the healthcare field, picture being able to go through x-rays or medical documentation in the office with a patient, on a device that can maintain the necessary security standards for HIPAA compliance.
• In the area of finance, how about navigating your Web-based trading platform on your device? With enough screen real estate, you can clearly see the fluctuation in your stock and determine whether it’s time to sell.
• Writers will truly be unlocked with a navigable keyboard, while the large square screen enables faster content development and delivery. When you are looking to type stories or notes, your virtual keyboard doesn’t cover most of your screen.

All of this is powered by a massive 3,450 mAh battery, which trounces the competition. Consider the runtime versus our competitors*:

*Based on third-party lab testing sponsored by BlackBerry, under 4G and 3G wireless conditions, using a mixed-usage profile. Results will vary by carrier and network conditions.)

The BlackBerry Passport will take you to new places on the best business trip you’ve ever had. We want you to imagine the possibilities.

Pricing and Availability (UPDATED 3/15)

You can get your factory-unlocked BlackBerry Passport from ShopBlackBerry.com at these links:

Black (currently $599, regular $699)

White (currently $599, regular $699)

Limited Edition Red: $699

…and at Amazon HERE, with AT&T offering it for $649.99 unsubsidized or $199.99 with a 2-year contract. The BlackBerry Passport is also available in Canada via Rogers for $249 and Telus (for as low as $150 up front) and other carriers.

For those outside the North American market, you can get your BlackBerry Passport directly from us at our global shopping portal HERE.

(Check with your local carrier for device compatibility.)

Apple and Samsung are not associated with and do not endorse BlackBerry products and services.