Live Blog: BlackBerry Live 2013

We’re now here at Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida to cover the annual BlackBerry Live Conference 2013. We’ll be posting live updates from the keynote presentation to new announcements in devices coming from BlackBerry.

Event starts at 9AM EST or about the same time in Manila at 9PM, May 14, 2013.

9:00PM – Crowd started to fill the ballroom by the hundreds. Press gets a special table in the middle with wired access, power and table. The place is packed. We’re ready to go.

9:20 – BlackBerry CEO, Thorsten Heins, welcomes everyone and congratulates everyone who got their own BlackBerry Z10 devices (thanks BrightStar for sponsoring the devices). First time for Blackberry to be a profitable company again and introduces new executive team.

9:30 – BB Q10 will be released in the US in June 2013 (PH may also follow). BB 10.1 will roll out to all Z10 users this week (including PH).

9:35 – BlackBerry Q5 announced, the affordbale BB device for emerging markets. To be shipped starting this summer. Comes in black, white, red and pink. Thorsten stresses “mobile first” strategy.

9:40 – Over 120,000 apps in BlackBerry World. Over 6,000+ developer partners. Skype will be available once you update to BB 10.1 OS.

BB 10 becoming a mobile platform for cars (developed by QNX). BBM video into the car (shown below a BBM Video conferencing from a car to a phone). To do software updates, the car has NFC to transfer firmware and OS updates. While driving, video will turn off and switch to pure audio for road safety (in this case, a Bentley).

9:50 – Mercedez-Benz and BlackBerry partnership to incorporate BB 10 into their cars.

10:00 – Thorsten introduces new enterprise and security services. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.1 will be able to manage any connected device, including Android and iOS.

10:20 – BlackBerry Chief Marketing Officer Frank Boulben on stage to explain the re-branding from RIM to BlackBerry.

10:30 – Alicia Keys, BlackBerry Global Creative Director, on stage talks on her role for content development, advocacy and championing women.

Shares 56% of BlackBerry users are women. Announces BlackBerry Scholars Program for women.

10:40 – Frank Boulben back on stage, announces marketing partnership with Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team.

10:42 – Thorsten on stage, 60 Million BBM users worldwide. More than 1 billion messages sent per day. Half of all messages are read within 20 seconds. Announces BBM Channels for groups, artists and brands.

BBM Channels is a new social networking feature within BBM that extends the sharing experience beyond your friendship circle –allowing channel creators to amass an unlimited number of followers. Express yourself with BBM Channels. Create, edit & publish in an instant. Or connect to the people, communities and brands you love – receive timely posts and participate by commenting on, liking and sharing posts.

10:50 – F1 racer Lewis Hamilton on stage with the Mercedes-Benz AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. Asks people to check under the seats for passes to ride with him (I thought I had one on my seat!).

10:55 – Thorsten announces BBM fo iOS and Android. Coming this summer! Supports all iPhones running iOS 6 and up as well as Android ICS and higher. No Windows Phone support mentioned though.

11:00 – That’s it! We’re off to see the new Q5 and share more articles within the day. You can check more details of the BlackBerry Q5 here.