If you’ve been communicating via smartphone over the last decade, you probably had a BlackBerry at one time. And now the company would like to remind you why.
BlackBerry just launched a jazzed-up version of the device which once made it essential to texting celebs and tech CEOs everywhere.
Dubbed the Classic, the device boasts an 8 megapixel camera and a 3.5-inch touch screen. It also features 60 percent more screen space, 50 percent more battery life and they say its three times faster than before.
But BlackBerry lovers will notice something even more interesting: a full QWERTY keyboard! (Steve Ballmer would be so thrilled).
BlackBerry writes:
It takes more than fast thumbs and a stone cold focus to stay on top of your inbox and the day’s priorities. You need navigation keys that do more than ‘go home’, and a physical keyboard that has no rival. Navigate with confidence using the optical track pad, menu and back keys, or answer, start and end phone calls with the dedicated phone keys.
In other words, the Classic is mostly for business, not gaming, Snapchatting or listening to music.
BlackBerry priced the Classic at $449 and its available through the company’s site and Amazon. AT&T, which launched the BlackBerry 950 in the U.S. in 1999, plans to carry the Classic as does Verizon.
Will the Classic help solve BlackBerry’s swoon? Too early to tell, but it does have a deep hole to crawl out of. The company’s market share of smartphone users now stands at just 2.3 percent.
Would you make the switch back to BlackBerry?
