Verizon to launch BlackBerry Priv late March; news on the slider's Android 6.0 update due this quarter

Earlier today, we told you that the BlackBerry Priv would soon be available from all four major U.S. carriers. AT&T's period of exclusivity expires on January 20th and as we told you last month, T-Mobile will launch the device for its subscribers on January 26th. At the time we posted the story this afternoon, neither Sprint nor Verizon had revealed when they would release the Android powered slider. But that has changed.

A tweet from Verizon's VP of communications Jeffrey Nelson, says that Big Red hopes to have the BlackBerry Priv available to its subscribers by the end of March ("if not sooner," adds Nelson). Back in November,Verizon tweeted its intentions to carry BlackBerry's first Android phone which was followed by an FCC visit by the handset. We still have no word from Sprint about when it plans on releasing the device.

There is some more news surrounding the Priv tonight. AT CES, BlackBerry's Ron Louks announced that sometime this quarter the manufacturer will announce news about the Android 6.0 update for the Priv. The executive added that information about third party accessories for the phone will be coming within weeks.

Also expected as soon as next month is a possible price cut for the phone. Currently sold unlocked by BlackBerry on its online store for $699.99, CEO John Chen has said that the Priv will have its price cut possibly around the time of the MWC in Barcelona. That expo kicks off on February 22nd.

Verizon will launch the BlackBerry Priv no later than the end of March

source: @JNels via Crackberry (1), (2)