BlackBerry announces second Android-based smartphone

Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry on Wednesday announced its second Android-based smartphone DTEK50 that combines BlackBerry's security, privacy and productivity with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow experience.

The $299 smartphone is now available to pre-order from ShopBlackBerry.com in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

"We take our customers' privacy seriously. This device adds to BlackBerry's lineup of secure smartphones, providing choice to our customers with different price points on both, BlackBerry 10 and Android platforms," said Ralph Pini, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Devices, BlackBerry, in a statement.

The device also comes with DTEK app that enables users to automatically monitor their operating system and apps to know when their privacy could be at risk and to take action to improve it.

The DTEK app also tracks applications and notifies you when someone is taking pictures or videos without your knowledge, turning your microphone on, sending a text message, or accessing your contacts or location.

DTEK50 encrypts all users' information, including business critical data and personal data such as pictures, videos and contacts. Malware protection is also built-in along with back-up, wipe and restore capabilities.

DTEK50 supports BlackBerry's suite of EMM applications and secure productivity solutions, including --WatchDox for secure file-sharing, Good Work for business-class email and collaboration tools, Strong Authentication as a VPN solution, SecuSUITE for Enterprise for secure voice and instant messaging communication, BBM Protected for encrypted messaging and BES12 for secure cross-platform management.

The smartphone has a 5.2-inch full HD display and features an oleophobic coating to protect against smudges and fingerprints. The device has 13MP auto-focus rear camera and a 8MP front camera.