BlackBerry has announced the launch of the BlackBerry Hub+ suite of Android apps, which will be made available with a new software licensing program for mobile devices.
The BlackBerry Hub inbox is included in this app bundle, which also includes a calendar, password keeper, contacts. notes, a launcher and more. BlackBerry is offering a free 30-day trial for the BlackBerry Hub+ suite, via the Google Play Store. After the trial is over, customers can continue to use the BlackBerry Hub+ suite for free, with ad banners, or get rid of them for $0.99 a month, which also includes access to additional apps. The apps are already preloaded on the BlackBerry Priv and the upcoming DTEK50 Android phone.
The BlackBerry Hub+ suite is currently only available for Android 6.0 Marshmallow devices. The Inside BlackBerry blog says that the company is looking to expand its reach to Android 5.0 Lollipop phones in the future.
Press release
BlackBerry Launches Software Licensing Program for Its Mobility Solutions Business
BlackBerry delivering on its smartphone software strategy, BlackBerry Hub+ gives Android users the quintessential BlackBerry productivity experience
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 3, 2016) - BlackBerry Limited (NASDAQ:BBRY)(TSX:BB), a global leader in secure mobile communications, announced today the launch of a software licensing program for its Mobility Solutions business by introducing the BlackBerry® Hub+ for Android. A suite of BlackBerry applications, BlackBerry Hub+ makes productivity and communication on Android 6.0 Marshmallow smartphones effortless.
BlackBerry's Mobility Solutions unit manages the BlackBerry smartphone business and development of device software offerings that includes maximizing the best of BlackBerry 10 software features and making them accessible on other platforms.
"An important initiative of the Mobility Solutions unit is a software strategy that combines BlackBerry's strength in security, engineering savvy and device experience. The result - the ability to extend the best of BlackBerry's secure communications and productivity features to any Android M consumer, enterprise or government customer," said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Mobility Solutions, BlackBerry. "Our customers have always raved about the unique experience of our proprietary productivity apps such as the BlackBerry Hub, calendar and contacts, amongst others. I'm excited that we're now able to offer these amazing features to all Android users that demand the most out of their smartphones."
The Best of BlackBerry…on Android
BlackBerry Hub+ for Android is a suite of applications that includes the BlackBerry Hub, calendar, contacts, notes, tasks, device search, launcher and password keeper applications for Android smartphones. Users can download a free trial from Google Play and access BlackBerry Hub+ from any Android device running 6.0 Marshmallow. The trial includes a suite of applications, including the BlackBerry Hub, calendar and password keeper. After a 30-day trial, users can continue using the apps for free with an ad-based experience, or subscribe to the entire suite of apps for 99 cents a month, which will include additional features: contacts, tasks, device search, notes and launcher. Additionally, users can choose to download the full suite from Google Play or just pick their favorite apps.
For users on BlackBerry 10, PRIV and DTEK50, all of these apps come fully integrated for a seamless out of the box experience.
Key features of the BlackBerry Hub+ include:
- Hub: A unified inbox that allows you to:
- compose email messages and social posts
- respond directly to messages and calendar invitations
- snooze items so that you can view them at a later date, time or location
- quickly select recipients for email messages using suggested contacts
- file email messages and manage all your folders
- search for messages or contacts saved directly on your device or on the email server and more.
- Calendar: View and respond to meeting invitations directly from the BlackBerry Hub. When you create or change events, you can avoid double bookings by viewing when you're busy. Using the "Join Now" feature, you can instantly dial into your meetings directly from your event reminder. And with Google Now voice commands, booking meetings has never been easier.
- Password Keeper: Stores all your passwords, log in information and important records safe in one highly secure spot that is encrypted with a password of your choice.
- Contacts: Stores all your contact info in one location for convenient management. You can interact with your contacts using a variety of methods such as phone calls, text and email messages, or calendar events directly from the Contacts app. You can also create and manage contact groups.
- Tasks: Increase your efficiency at work by creating tasks, setting due dates and reminders to help you stay focused and meet your deadlines.
- Device Search: Easily find a contact, a meeting, a file, an email, a song by searching in one universal search bar.
- Notes: Keep track of to-do lists or your bucket list, notes for a presentation, action items from a meeting, gift ideas for your family or groceries you need to pick up after work.
- Launcher: Turn multi-step actions like sending an email or calling a friend into a one-click task. BlackBerry Launcher lets you organize apps, widgets and shortcuts on customized home screen panels for instant access.
