Fans of both the Android platform and Canada-based BlackBerry will be thrilled to know that the release date for the upcoming Priv is coming nearer. One of the sure signs that the new Android-run BlackBerry is coming is that pre-orders for the device have now gone live.

According to the post on the official BlackBerry blog, pre-orders for the upcoming Priv have been opened for fans in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

Those who would like to place their orders earlier than others can check out Rogers and ShopBlackBerry for Canada; Carphone Warehouse and ShopBlackBerry in the U.K.; and ShopBlackBerry U.S.

In addition to Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, pre-orders for the BlackBerry Priv were also opened in Germany via Amazon Germany, Media Markt, and Saturn.

The Priv is BlackBerry's first Android platform smartphone. However, BlackBerry remains mum on details about the platform itself, if it will be a stock Android ROM, or a hybrid one with a stable version of one of the most used platforms with BlackBerry's signature features and interface. What is confirmed though is that aside from an Android platform, the BlackBerry Priv will come out with a DTEK-focused app for owners. According to Information Week, this security option helps owners manage their phone's security and privacy settings. One of the noted features of the DTEK app is that it measures the overall security level of the device, based on details such as password strength, encryption settings, and individual app information.

BlackBerry also still has to confirm the specs sheet for the upcoming device. Based on rumors, the BlackBerry Priv will apparently have a 5.43-inch QHD AMOLED display with 540 ppi and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 integrated. Under the hood, it is said that the Priv will run on a hexa-core Snapdragon 808 processor partnered with 3 GB of RAM, with 32 GB of storage. The Priv also reportedly has an expanded storage, and it is speculated that users can add up to 2 TB of storage via microSD.