BlackBerry launches Z3 smartphone in India at Rs15,990

The BlackBerry Z3 smartphone priced Rs15,990 has hit the market, but buyers on Flipkart and Mobile Store can expect to get a Rs 1,000 voucher for the first month.

Pre-booking is set to start today.

The phone would also have a lot of content for the Indian audience including apps like Wonobo, a Google Streetview-like mapping covering top cities. The phone additionally features a keyboard that is as good with Hindi and Hinglish as with English.

According to BlackBerry India MD Sunil Lalvani, the phone had been designed keeping the requirements of Indians today in mind, The Indian Express reported. He added this was the company's first phone to come out of its partnership with Foxconn.

He said that the five-year strategic partnership with the Taiwanese manufacturer showed blackberry was not taking away its focus from devices.

Lalvani added that VAT structures and Customs Duty did not allow the company to launch the phone in India at the $200 price point it was on offer in Indonesia now.

Meanwhile, Blackberry said in a press release, "The new BlackBerry Z3 smartphone is available for pre-book with The MobileStore, Flipkart, and all BlackBerry Exclusive stores from 25 June -2 July.

''The Z3 is also the first smartphone to be introduced from our strategic partnership with Foxconn and it further strengthens our commitment to enhance our devices portfolio.''

The handset, which comes with a 5-inch display, is being launched with BlackBerry Maps for the first time I India. The application provides 2D maps, local search and powerful 3D voice guided turn-by-turn directions.

The other features include BlackBerry Priority Hub (an application that helps user access all e-mail, BBM, text messages, social media updates and notifications), BBM (voice and video chatting) and BlackBerry Keyboard among others.

Other features are BlackBerry 10 Browser, FM Radio and Time Shift (a camera feature that captures a group shot where everyone is smiling with their eyes wide open) and Story Maker (an application to bring a collection of photos and videos together) among others.

Last week, BlackBerry extended a special upgrade offer on its flagship BlackBerry Z30 device. The upgrade enabled smartphone users to buy a BlackBerry Z30 for Rs29,990 in exchange of an old working handset, for which they would receive a minimum cash back of Rs 5,000 (See: BlackBerry announces special upgrade offer for BlackBerry Z30).