US$649.99 Blackberry Passport and US$419.99 Blackberry Classic - Why Americans are ready to fall in love with Blackberry

“The BlackBerry Passport is ideal for the mobile professional who wants an innovative wireless device focused on security and productivity. Available first in the U.S. on the AT&T Network, customers will benefit from the uniquely designed Passport's enhanced features, including a wider screen, 32GB of storage, and a 3450 mAh battery”

SVP, Device Marketing and Developer Services at AT&T, Jeff Bradley, commenting on the coming launch of the Blackberry Passport and the Blackberry Classic on AT&T's Network come Friday February 20^th 2015

Folks, take a quick look at the picture below of Television Jamaica Media Personality Simone Clarke-Cooper and tell me if you spot anything unusual.

Aside from the fact that she is OBVIOUSLY an Indian and is very greedy while on set of Television Jamaica's Morning time Program  Smile Jamaica, there's also the fact that she's STILL toting a Blackberry as I’d noted in my blog article entitled “US$450 Blackberry Classic coming December 17th 2014 – What the Blackberry Q20 has become with QWERTY Keyboard and Android Apps”.

Which is just as well, as the Blackberry Passport and the Blackberry Classic, which was promised since December 2014, is finally coming to AT&T in on Friday February 20th 2015 as noted in the article “BlackBerry's new phones finally come to a US carrier this month AT&T to sell the Passport and Classic starting on February 20^th”, published February 16, 2015 10:11 am By Dan Seifert, The Verge and “BlackBerry Passport And Classic Available From AT&T On February 20”, published 16.02.2015 by CNBC.

This much anticipated smartphone is finally making a landing on AT&T.

Carrier unlocked prices reasonable for the Blackberry - Carrier unlocking now legal in the USA

Best of all, as of Wednesday February 11^th 2015 Telecom Provider are now legally obliged to give customer the option to Carrier unlock their smartphones as noted in the article “UNLOCKING YOUR PHONE IS LEGAL AGAIN: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW”, published February 11, 2015 By Williams Pelegrin, DigitalTrends. 

Americans won this right on Friday August 1^st 2014, my birthday, after President Barack Obama signed the “Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act” (S.517) as noted in my blog article entitled “Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act makes Cellphone Unlocking Legal again - President Barack Obama upholds DMCA”

That paved the way for smartphone unlocking to be legal on Wednesday February 11^th 2015, allowing Americans to be able to request that their Telecom Provider give them the option to purchase the smartphone unlocked by the Carrier.

Now that it's legit, no more smartphone unlocking is required, as evidenced by the declining traffic to my blog article entitled “How to unlock any phone and put it on any Network - Guaranteed to unlock any Feature or Smartphone on the Chennai Express”.

Hence, as in the case of the Blackberry Passport and the Blackberry Classic on AT&T, the prices are for both Carrier-unlocked and 2-year contract as shown below:

1.      US$649.99 for the Blackberry Passport Carrier-unlocked

2.      US$199.99 for the Blackberry Passport on a 2-year contract

3.      US$419.99 for the Blackberry Classic Unlocked

4.      US$49.99 for the Blackberry Classic on a 2-year contract

So Simone Clarke-Cooper, being as she's “loaded”, can totally afford to upgrade to this latest Blackberry Classic and stop totin' the older Blackberry that she regularly is spotted with in Public and on Television Jamaica's Morning time Program  Smile Jamaica as these are real smartphones now.

No pressure, but the Blackberry Passport would be an even better upgrade. This as it’s a lot bigger and can also serve as a plate to hold a bowl, being as the display is super-strong Gorilla Glass!

So what's different about the Blackberry Passport and the Blackberry Classic?

US$649.99 Blackberry Passport and US$419.99 Blackberry Classic - Why Americans are ready to fall in love with Blackberry

Internally, the 4.5" Blackberry Passport has the same exact specs as described back in my August 2014 blog article entitled “Blackberry Passport Specs revealed in Hands-on - Why Microsoft Office and BBM Music will make the Passport Hip to Be Square”.

Well, for one, the US$649.99 Blackberry Passport differs from the international models sold in places like India in one subtle way; it has rounded edges. Indians may have noticed that the squareish Blackberry Passport was boring holes in their knapsack and pockets.

Thus an adjustment in design was necessary after launch in September 2014 as stated in my blog article entitled “US$599 Blackberry Passport Launched - How Blackberry Blend Remote Access may trump Apple Pay Wallet in the US of A”

The video below does an excellent job of explaining these differences.

As for the US$419.99 Blackberry Classic, which is actually the Blackberry Q20 rebranded, it's also the same smartphone, just with the option for Carrier-unlocking and available on AT&T's Network. Undoubtedly, it'll also be available on Verizon's Network soon.

AT&T happy about Blackberry’s comeback – Wait-and-see if Digicel and LIME will carry Blackberry

Clearly AT&T are happy about it, with SVP, Device Marketing and Developer Services at AT&T, Jeff Bradley, heaping nothing but praises on what may potentially be a comeback for Blackberry after success in India, quote: “The BlackBerry Classic is an excellent addition to AT&T's leading line-up of smartphones. AT&T customers will be thrilled with the Classic. It blends the best of familiar features, such as BlackBerry's QWERTY keyboard with enhanced capabilities including BlackBerry Blend and Assistant”.

But the big question is, will Digicel or LIME be carrying the Blackberry Passport and the Blackberry Classic now that they’re on a comeback trail as noted in the article “BlackBerry Passport, Classic to land at AT&T on Feb. 20”, published February 16, 2015 9:15 AM PST by Steven Musil, CNET News?

After the runaway success of the DLXXX line of smartphones as noted in my blog article entitled  “JA$6,950 DL750 and JA$8,250 DL800 on Sale at Digicel – Alcatel One Touch Pop C1 as ZTE Force Awakens and Alcatel’s Empire Strikes Back”, are they willing to take the plunges with branded smartphones?

Folks, Friday February 20^th 2015 is only four (4) days away!