Jakarta Special: BlackBerry Announce the Z3 Developed Specifically for the Indonesian Market

In addition to the Q20, BlackBerry announced a new smartphone developed specifically for the Indonesian market. A result of a strategic partnership with device manufacturer, Foxconn, to keep costs low, the BlackBerry Z3 will feature a 5-inch touchscreen display, run on BlackBerry 10.2.1 and feature customised local apps. While other specifications like battery, camera and processor have not been revealed during the announcement detailed leaked images of the Z3 have already surfaced on the internet.

While BlackBerry is optimistic of the Z3’s performance, it has a mountain to climb in Indonesia, a market where it used to enjoy a cult following. In 2011, BlackBerry accounted for 43% of the Indonesian smartphone market, according to IDC. But the market has shifted quickly toward Android devices and by 2013, BlackBerry’s share of the Indonesian market had dwindled to 14% while Android’s market exploded to 81%.

The BlackBerry Z3 is expected to be available in Indonesia in April. Further details on pricing and availability will be announced at launch.