BlackBerry opens Android Marshmallow beta program for PRIV owners

BlackBerry has opened up a new beta testing program to give BlackBerry PRIV owners early access to the upcoming Android Marshmallow software update. This news follows the announcement from the company’s CEO last week that the 6.0 update would be rolling out in late April, or early May.

As with every phone running Marshmallow, the PRIV will get ‘Doze’ mode to extend battery life during standby as well as ‘App Standby’ which limits how much power is drained by rarely-used apps. What’s more, BBerry PRIV owners will get Google’s Now On Tap, more granular app permissions controls and auto backup for apps.

As well as the standard Marshmallow features, BlackBerry notes that the beta update might include future security patches before they’re released to everyone else. If you want to sign up to the beta testing program, you’ll need to register at BlackBerry’s Beta Zone. If registration is full, you can sign up to be placed on the waiting list.

Once signed up and accepted on to the program, participants will test Android 6.0 via wireless software update to the 6.0 beta build, and can submit bug reports by using the included bug reporting app.

If you want to be among the first wave of beta testers, you’ll have a better chance if you bought your phone direct from ShopBlackBerry or from Amazon or Carphone Warehouse. You can also apply if you didn’t buy from any of those three stores, but you’ll not be accepted immediately.

Registration is open for around two weeks from today, and testing will begin from the second week of April and last for between 4-8 weeks. Places on the beta program are limited, so if you want to get involved, you’ll need to sign up as soon as possible.