BlackBerry has launched a new smartphone that’s designed as a potential upgrade for BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve users.
The company says its new BlackBerry Classic - which has a physical QWERTY keyboard and trackpad - offers 60% more screen space, a 50% longer battery life and a faster browser than the BlackBerry Bold 9900. However, it’s worth noting that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 was launched in 2011.
Specifications include a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, 16GB of expandable storage, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera.
BlackBerry’s Classic will run the BlackBerry 10.3.1 operating system, which includes the BlackBerry Blend productivity service and the speech-controlled BlackBerry Assistant feature.
John Chen, Executive Chairman and CEO at BlackBerry, said “We listened closely to our customers’ feedback to ensure we are delivering the technologies to power them through their day – and that feedback led directly to the development of BlackBerry Classic. BlackBerry Classic is the powerful communications tool that many BlackBerry Bold and Curve users have been waiting for. It’s the secure device that feels familiar in their hands, with the added performance and agility they need to be competitive in today’s busy world.”
This new device is compatible with the BlackBerry World application store and the Amazon Appstore as well.
UK pricing is £349.00 incl. VAT SIM-free, with availability due mid-January 2015.
[BlackBerry blog]