Updated: BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982 launches as metal clad Z10

Shiny, shiny BlackBerry

What should a company do when it's in trouble? Well if you're BlackBerry apparently it's launch a premium smartphone for the high rollers - introducing the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982.

While it's got an all-new name and the Porsche Design branding splashed across its front, the P'9982 is actually a humble BlackBerry Z10 in a swanky Italian leather and stainless steel suit.

The only hardware difference is the P'9982 comes with a sizeable 64GB of internal storage, trumping the paltry 16GB found in the Z10.

That means you get the same 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4.2-inch 720p display, 8MP camera and the latest BlackBerry 10.2 OS - the P'9982 is certainly going for style over substance, then.

What you do get is an official certificate of authentication in the box, plus an exclusive BlackBerry pin which starts "2AA" to let everyone know you're part of this elite club.

In terms of on-screen goodies the P'9982 comes with a grey wallpaper (yes, plain grey), a special Porsche Design ringtone and a dedicated area in App World.

n terms of price, this smartly dressed Z10 is going to set you back a fair bit, although the exact price hasn't been announced.

TechRadar has been told that it'll sport a similar price tag to the previous Porsche Design smartphone - the P'9981 - which retailed at around $2400/AU$2500.

Update: BlackBerry has told TechRadar "information on pricing for the P'9982 will be announced through Porsche Design and other retail partners. The suggested retail price for the P'9982 smartphone is $2350 (around AU$2500)."

Meanwhile the Z10 can be yours for just $280 (around AU$340).

At that price you'd think that the P'9982 would be a limited edition phone, but BlackBerry has said it'll sell as many as it can - so if you really want one you won't need to know "someone on the inside."

If you're sold then you'll be able to nab the Porsche Design P'9982 from November 21 in selected retailers around the world - with Harrods in the UK getting the handset exclusively from that date.

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Updated: BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982 launches as metal clad Z10

Shiny, shiny BlackBerry

What should a company do when it's in trouble? Well if you're BlackBerry apparently it's launch a premium smartphone for the high rollers - introducing the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9982.

While it's got an all-new name and the Porsche Design branding splashed across its front, the P'9982 is actually a humble BlackBerry Z10 in a swanky Italian leather and stainless steel suit.

The only hardware difference is the P'9982 comes with a sizeable 64GB of internal storage, trumping the paltry 16GB found in the Z10.

That means you get the same 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 4.2-inch 720p display, 8MP camera and the latest BlackBerry 10.2 OS - the P'9982 is certainly going for style over substance, then.

What you do get is an official certificate of authentication in the box, plus an exclusive BlackBerry pin which starts "2AA" to let everyone know you're part of this elite club.

In terms of on-screen goodies the P'9982 comes with a grey wallpaper (yes, plain grey), a special Porsche Design ringtone and a dedicated area in App World.

n terms of price, this smartly dressed Z10 is going to set you back a fair bit, although the exact price hasn't been announced.

TechRadar has been told that it'll sport a similar price tag to the previous Porsche Design smartphone - the P'9981 - which retailed at around $2400/AU$2500.

Update: BlackBerry has told TechRadar "information on pricing for the P'9982 will be announced through Porsche Design and other retail partners. The suggested retail price for the P'9982 smartphone is $2350 (around AU$2500)."

Meanwhile the Z10 can be yours for just $280 (around AU$340).

At that price you'd think that the P'9982 would be a limited edition phone, but BlackBerry has said it'll sell as many as it can - so if you really want one you won't need to know "someone on the inside."

If you're sold then you'll be able to nab the Porsche Design P'9982 from November 21 in selected retailers around the world - with Harrods in the UK getting the handset exclusively from that date.

Get the week's hottest news stories, our most popular reviews, and fantastic competitions straight to your inbox with our free weekly newsletter.

Learn more

See more phone and communications news Add comment

View the original article here

Virgin Mobile Middle East launches services in Malaysia

By Matt Smith

DUBAI, Sept 12 | Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:05pm EDT

DUBAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) has launched virtual telecom services in Malaysia, teaming up with the south east Asian country's No.4 operator U Mobile and stepping up competition in an already crowded market.

Dubai-based VMMEA, part-owned by British entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).

These do not own the networks they use to provide communications services but instead lease capacity from conventional operators, usually paying them a percentage of their revenue as well as fees.

VMMEA - holder of MVNO licences in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, South Africa and Oman - will operate under its brand Friendi in Malaysia, which usually targets foreign workers.

"Malaysia has strong cultural, trade and tourism links with the Middle East markets where VMMEA has the bulk of operations," VMMEA chief executive Mikkel Vinter said in a statement.

The company enters a crowded Malaysian telecoms market, which already has four mobile operators and other MVNOs. Mobile penetration was 143 percent at the end of June, according to data from the country's telecom regulator. This is little changed from the end of 2012, indicating stagnating subscriber growth.

Yet the prospects for MVNOs in Malaysia are promising, according to Paul Budde, managing director of Sydney-based telecommunications consultancy BuddeCom.

"There is a supportive regulator, an open market and mainstream operators prepared to work with MVNOs," said Budde. "The prepaid tourist market looks to be promising for MVNOs."

Friendi launched services on U Mobile's network this week. U Mobile has 7 percent market share according to BuddeCom.

Maxis is the market leader with 37 percent, Celcom - a unit of Axiata Group Bhd - has 34 percent and DiGi.Com Bhd 28 percent.

VMMEA owns a controlling stake in Friendi Malaysia, with state investment fund Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Sdn Bhd a minority stakeholder.

Vinter declined to provide further details, but a September report from Business Monitor International (BMI) said VMMEA owns a 65 percent stake in the MVNO, with 30 percent held by Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor and the remainder by Samena Telecom.

View the original article here