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Lower-priced BlackBerry coming

BlackBerry says its lower-priced keyboard smartphone is headed to Canadian stores next month, even though it was originally intended solely for emerging markets.

BlackBerry says its lower-priced keyboard smartphone is headed to Canadian stores next month, even though it was originally intended solely for emerging markets. The Waterloo, Ont.-based smartphone maker unveiled the cheaper version of its latest line of smarphones in May.

The move allows BlackBerry to offer its new BlackBerry 10 operating system to smartphone users who can’t afford, or don’t want to spend the money, on a more expensive phone.

The company says the BlackBerry Q5 will hit Canadian stores on Aug. 13 through carriers like Bell (TSX:BCE) and Telus (TSX:T), as well as various retailers. The phone will also be available through Roger’s (TSX:RCI.B) lower-priced label Fido. It has yet to announce how much the phones will cost in Canada.