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“The Classic was the last device to offer the original BlackBerry physical keyboard experience”
In December 2014, BlackBerry went back to its roots and launched the QWERTY keyboard-toting Classic (review) smartphone. Based on the Bold 9900’s design, the Classic featured the traditional BlackBerry form factor with modern features. As all (good or bad) things come to an end, BlackBerry has discontinued the Classic. Ralph Pini, COO and GM for devices at BlackBerry, confirmed the news in a blog post and said that the Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan of a smartphone in the present market.
Pini said that the company will continue to support the BlackBerry 10 OS with software updates. The brand will be rolling out the BB OS 10.3.3 update next month, and a second major update next year. So it’s likely that the vendor will continue to support the BlackBerry Classic with new firmware even after ending production.
In the blog post, Pini wrote that “the hardest part in letting go is accepting that change makes way for new and better experiences”. He said that the company will now focus on updating its smartphone portfolio. “We are ready for this change so we can give our customers something better – entrenched in our legacy in security and pedigree in making the most productive smartphones,” he added further.
There have already been a few leaks about some of the future BlackBerry devices. As per the reports, the brand currently has three smartphones in the pipeline – the BlackBerry Neon, Argon and Mercury. The Neon and Mercury will be mid-range offerings, while the Argon will be a flagship device with a Snapdragon 820 processor.
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