BlackBerry KEY2 launches in Canada one week ahead of its U.S. release

On Friday, the BlackBerry KEY2 launched in Canada. Next Friday, U.S. consumers will be able to get their hands on the device. Pre-orders in the states are being taken by Best Buy and Amazon. While the company that designed and built the phone is China's TCL, BlackBerry itself has always been headquartered in Canada, even back when the company was known as Research In Motion, or RIM. And that explains why Canadians usually get first crack at a new BlackBerry in North America.

The KEY2 can now be purchased from Canadian carriers Bell, Telus, SaskTel and Rogers. In Canada, subsidized two-year phone deals are still being offered, which means that a two-year contract will need to be signed. Here is the pricing for the KEY2 from the four wireless providers:

Bell-$99 CAD ($76 USD) with a 2-year pact. Device costs $875 CAD ($669 USD) to buy without a contract.

Telus-$100 CAD ($76 USD) with a 2-year pact. Device costs $870 CAD ($665 USD) to buy without a contract.
SaskTel-$99 CAD ($76 USD) with a 2-year pact. Device costs $800 CAD ($611 USD) to buy without a contract. Get $150 CAD off with trade.

Rogers-$95 CAD ($73 USD) with a 2-year pact. Device costs $800 CAD ($611 USD) to buy without a contract.

In the states, the BlackBerry KEY2 is priced at $649. That is $100 higher than the original cost of the first-generation BlackBerry KEYone.

source:  Bell, Telus, SaskTel, Rogers via CrackBerry