Category: Technology News

Other options for the smartphone also include white, black, and red, though they are not in precious metals.

The BlackBerry Passport has become a mobile device that has been tremendously ambitious for the struggling company, and the smartphone has been released in a number of different colors, including: white, black, and red.

Now, there has been another option added to the list, which is as unique as the device shape, itself.

There is now one BlackBerry Passport option that is plated in 24K gold and was released by Goldgenie. The device costs roughly $3,000. This is not the first time that the handset maker has had a smartphone decorated with precious metals, or even stones. A few years ago, it released a Q10 that was encrusted with diamonds and that cost a whopping $31,000. More recently, Canadian rapper, Drake, had his own Classic plated in 24K gold. Similarly, Khloe Kardashian bought a rose gold plated Classic.

The 24K gold BlackBerry Passport has the same specifications as the original version of the device.

The new golden version of the mobile devices is the only smartphone that has a physical QWERTY keyboard with actual keys. That keyboard also has intuitive features and is touch sensitive. It is meant to be not only attractive smartphone, but it is also meant to offer enhanced functionality. According to Goldgenie, “When the masters of mobile business productivity combine with the masters of luxury customization, it is bound to result in a masterpiece that is both functional and beautiful.”

Beyond the 24K gold, the Passport is also to be sold in rose gold and platinum plating. Those will be priced at just under $2,000 and just over $2,000, respectively. The precious metals will be plating around the edges, though not on the frets or along the bottom edge.

While the BlackBerry Passport devices in precious metals may seem like they come with a very large price tag, there have been a number of other mobile gadgets from other brands that have made similar offerings at much higher prices. Among them was the Nokia Arte 8800, which was actually considered to be the least expensive in that type of cell phone, and that was only a feature phone…at $135,000.

In the city of Madurai, India, Christian churches are trying to stop smartphone use during service.

Churches throughout the city of Madurai, India, have had enough of the intrusion from mobile technology during their services and have started to crack down on the use of those devices on their premises.

Advisories have been issued against texting and against using messaging apps during service.

Some of the priests have said that they have been trying to decide whether or not they should be addressing individual parishioners who have continued to use mobile technology devices while they are in church. They have found that the practice of texting and the use of the WhatsApp mobile app have been especially problematic and intrusive during their services.

Mobile technology has been interrupting prayer services on a more regular basis, distracting the peace.

Ringtones for incoming messages and calls are sometimes embarrassing for the mobile device owner, but they are certainly distracting and frustrating to the entire congregation, as they are occurring more regularly in the middle of prayer. The majority of churchgoers do carry their smartphones to church with them, but the clergy in Madurai is trying very hard to make it clear that the devices need to be silent and unused throughout a prayer service. The sound of a smartphone or the sight of its use is considered to be quite intrusive.

The clergy is asking that the members of churches please follow what the majority have been doing and shut off their phones or switch them to silent mode. Should an emergency call come in – through a vibrating alert, not a ringtone – they want members to step out of the room in order to take it.

According to Father Jerone Simon of the Claretian Missionaries, who is a regular celebrant of mass at Ellis Nagar and Bastin Nagar churches, “When mobile phones came in first and smart phones later, it was tough time to control this intrusion. There have been instances when we had to tell the members getting calls to put their phones on the silent mode. But things are working out slowly.”

Signage and placards are being hung in some churches, such as St. Mary’s Cathedrial, in order to prevent the use of mobile technology and remind parishioners to silence their devices when they enter. Unfortunately, until now, that has not managed to reach everybody, quite yet.