American mobile phone maker Blackberry is killing its Classic smartphone. The model was based on a physical QWERTY keyboard.
BlackBerry is planning the release of a new range of phones that is based on Android and BlackBerry 10 platform. The company’s latest decision is seen as an attempt to better compete with the uneven market.
“For many years, Classic (and its BBOS predecessors) has been in our portfolio. It has been an incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations. But, the Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today’s market. 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.” the company blog statement by Ralph Pini (Company Head of Devices) read.
The company however says it will continue to produce the models until they ran out of stock.
The iconic and more unique phones had some of the features that you would easily distinguish from other phones, ending its production for the Android based will mean that everyone will have ‘a phone like mine’.
BlackBerry platform has faced a myriad of challenges for a while now, with the likes of Facebook pulling away from the platform, the move to end the production of Classic-which was relaunched in 2014-begs the question; is the firm’s latest decision more of a company clutching at straws?